torzsi: "We wanted to prove to ourselves that we are better than G2 this season"

MOUZ are on the way to their second consecutive ESL Pro League trophy.

MOUZ came into ESL Pro League Season 19 after a grand final appearance at IEM Chendgu, where only a red-hot FaZe were able to stop the Kamil "⁠siuhy⁠" Szkaradek-led team.

The European combine flawlessly traversed the group stage and earned a direct berth to the quarters in Malta, where they were met by G2. MOUZ defeated Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač and company after coming back from a first-map demolition, and Ádám "⁠torzsi⁠" Torzsás has now set his eyes on the team's second consecutive EPL trophy.

After their win in the quarter-final, the Hungarian AWPer talked to HLTV about the match, their rivalry with G2, and their upcoming test against Complexity.

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How does it feel to be in the semis?

It feels amazing to be in the semi-finals and one step closer to the trophy again. I'm happy that we came back in this game because we had a rough start on Inferno, and I think G2 played really well. I'm just happy that we woke up after the second map and showed that we can beat them.

What would you say changed in the team from the first map, where you got three rounds, to demolishing them on the next two?

We had one week off after the group stage, and we had a little bit of a shaky start. We didn't practice too much in the last week because me and siuhy got sick, we got food poisoning, so it was not the best.

But I feel like we just had a rough start, we were not really in the groove of playing again, and after the first map, we just thought that we needed to play for the win, to be hungry, to shout, and to give emotions. Then on the second map, we just showed up. They played pretty well on CT and came back, but we closed it out, and on Nuke it was just over.

It's your second win against G2 in a row after they beat you at the Major. Is this win a bit of revenge for you guys?

We talked about the fact that this is an important win for us versus G2 because we wanted to prove to ourselves and them that we are a better team than them this season. And yeah, we lost to them at the Major, but we beat them in Chengdu and here as well. This was the last chance, because in Dallas they will play with a stand-in, so that's a different topic, but we just wanted to prove to ourselves that we are a better team than them this season. It felt really good.

It was also your first map loss here in Malta. You spoke in Chengdu that you were a bit exhausted, did the few days since then help you recharge your batteries?

We are refreshed at the moment still. We're gonna have two more tournaments, but right now I feel like we are on good terms and we have capacity for this tournament. We had a one-week break after Chengdu, and then we had a one-week break now as well between the group stage and the playoffs. We are kind of relaxed, or not relaxed, but we have energy, and we are ready to lift the trophy if that's the case.

Last time you were here you lifted the trophy, and you were also the MVP. Do you think you can repeat it with Brollan this time?

I really hope we can repeat it and lift the trophy as a team again. It would be nice to win the MVP, but I would also be really happy if one of my teammates got it because I think it's an amazing feeling, and I want them to feel it. I think xertioN has a really good shot at it, and I hope he will get it. If it's not him, maybe one of my other teammates or me, it's whatever, but first comes the trophy, and that's the main focus.

Your first test is Complexity on Saturday. So how are you feeling about that game?

I feel pretty confident versus Complexity. The last time we played versus them was the Major, and I think we ran over them like 13-1, we beat them by a lot. But I know that they can play much better than that.

I think they are a really good team. They are really dangerous, and if EliGE, Grim, and hallzerk show up they can beat everyone, so it will be a great game. On the other hand, I'm confident in my team, and I'm just looking forward to Saturday and Sunday.