FalleN on adjusting to FURIA: "There is a cultural difference in how to approach Counter-Strike"

The Brazilian captain sat down with HLTV to discuss FURIA's EPL preparation, his form, and the growing pains he and his team are facing.

Gabriel "⁠FalleN⁠" Toledo joined FURIA from Imperial in the off-season, bringing teammate Marcelo "⁠chelo⁠" Cespedes with him in the process. The move had an overwhelmingly positive reaction, as the prospect of FalleN and Kaike "⁠KSCERATO⁠" Cerato joining forces seemed like a match made in heaven.

Despite all the hype, FURIA's early-season results left much to be desired. They exited IEM Cologne in the Play-In stage after a loss to The MongolZ and were eliminated by Natus Vincere in the first round of Gamers8.

Now, the Brazilian squad has set their sights on ESL Pro League Season 18, where they will face off against Movistar Riders in the first round. FalleN talked with HLTV about a range of topics ahead of their opener, including the process of combining his vision with the rest of the team.

I would like to start by asking about your ESL Pro League S18 preparation. How have the last few weeks been?

It's been very good. Recently, we had a small problem with KSCERATO getting a little bit sick in the last few days. But overall, we think we have been adjusting and getting to know each other better with each game that passes. So I'm pretty satisfied with the way we're coming into this group. I think it's gonna be interesting and very challenging, but at the same time, there are opportunities to qualify for the next stage.

You played online recently in the Pinnacle Cup and reached the final by getting some wins on the board. Did that help with confidence in the team?

Definitely, I think we're coming upwards at the moment with the recent results. I know it's only a few games, and of course, it cannot be overstated how much that means. But at the same time, on an internal level of confidence, it does help the team to see that the results we are getting are coming from the work we have been putting in. It comes from all the things that we have been organizing together about how to play and how to approach [the game], and a better understanding of each other as well. So it feels good to be coming to this tournament coming from those games.

What are your expectations for ESL Pro League?

The expectation is to be able to play the way we have been playing the last games online in this Pinnacle competition, and there are things from those games that we took a look at. In terms of behavior and in terms of communication, my expectations are for us to fulfill those things we have been talking about. I'm not really talking about the results itself, I just want to see the team being able to perform, play the game we want to play, and do the things we were planning to do. Those are the most important things.

And if that's gonna result in us winning, we have to see, there are a lot of things to come. So overall, I think my expectations are to really go through the tournament and go to the next stage. But at the same time, I'm way more concerned about the process of us getting there. And if those things happen, I'm gonna be satisfied even without qualifying, I just want to see the team progressing each time, a little bit, and eventually we're gonna get there.

arT mentioned at Cologne that you two shared calling duties. Is that still the case?

Yeah, it's still the case. arT has a lot of good ideas he can bring to the table. I think the strongest point in my way of leading and calling inside the teams I have been playing was to get everyone on the same page. And that's the big challenge here because there is a difference, a cultural difference in how to approach Counter-Strike from the moment I joined the team. That was expected, that's why I joined the team. I got here to be able to show them different ideas and ways of seeing reactions, which fights to take, and when to take them, and they have been super welcoming to those ideas and they have been trying to adjust their own game.

At the same time, I have been trying to understand how they think as well. Because I know there's a lot of strengths in the FURIA games from the past. And I think the most successful we can be is when we can naturally transition between those two ways of playing, which of course takes time, experience, and a lot of games to happen so we can live those experiences together.

How long do you think it will take the team to get to a point where you can do that?

If you know the person who has the answer to that you let me know, because I want to know as well (laughs). For me, it's as soon as possible, we're working and putting in the energy to get this result. But at the same time, if we spend too much time thinking about when it's going to be and how nice it is going to be when we get there, we're not going to put enough work and energy into the things that matter at the moment in the present time. Right now, what we have to do is get better each day a little bit, and eventually, we're going to get there.

What would you say is the biggest difference between your calling style in Imperial and FURIA? Is there anything specific that you guys had difficulties with?

I wouldn't say there are difficulties, I think it's more about the stylistic approach. I think the FURIA guys played very reactive CS, which has been up to date, a lot of people play like that recently. And when situations happen in the game, there's a lot of ways you can think about it. I think FURIA have been thinking in the past very aggressively about them, if there's an opportunity to take then you take it, and that's very good. They have been doing pretty well lately. But at some point, you realize that taking all those initiatives, after some time, you're gonna get hurt because people are gonna understand the way you approach the game easily.

And the same goes if you always take this passive approach as well, which we have some teams playing like that, you can look to the CIS teams. Some of them will play slow, they're gonna play on their own standards, on their own timings. I think the ability to be able to transition during those things is what we can bring to the table, which is gonna take time. But those are the things we're looking for at the moment.

You have also been adapting to a new team in terms of your AWPing, and you're getting some good numbers. How has that adjustment been?

Yeah, individually, I do feel good. I think I have been playing one of my strongest moments at the moment, it does feel good. I have very good teammates alongside me, and sometimes it's been a little bit good for me. But at the same time, it is challenging because there's so many things that happen inside the server inside the match, that often in other teams, they wouldn't be happening. So there are certain times when I think there is a certain necessity in other teams for me to speak out, say something, and decide something. And on this team, I have more people to help me out, like arT is deciding some of those things.

There are a lot of things that we need time for and go through situations for us to get adjusted and feel comfortable completely. And I think we're still in the process, we need to play more together. I'm talking about competitions because practice doesn't give you the full emotions and hardships when it comes to deciding things fast in the moment. But I'm pretty satisfied, I think everyone has been playing well, and I think we're getting to understand each other pretty fast. A lot of people want it to be a one-week or a two-week job but you know, building a good team takes time.

You have been playing in Europe since the player break. Is that the plan moving forward, or do you plan on going to North America?

We plan to go to North America for some qualifiers. We are still an NA-based team, but at the same time, we understand the landscape right now is more towards Europe. If you want to get the best practice you want to live in the best region that offers you the best competition, so you have to be in Europe, and the team has a good understanding of that. We're going to be transitioning and staying in Europe the most we can in order to have those best opportunities to practice.