frozen: "Hopefully, we can steamroll from this"

"We showed that they should not count us out," the Slovakian player added.

FaZe have locked up a spot in the quarter-finals of the BLAST Premier World Final after seeing off world No.1 Natus Vincere. Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen's charges overcame a slow start to run out 2-1 winners and make a return to the playoffs after crashing out of IEM Rio in the group stage.

The elation that accompanied the victory contrasted with the disappointment felt by FaZe's players in yesterday's loss to MOUZ, especially David "⁠frozen⁠" Čerňanský, who looked dejected after the series.

"We just kind of left with the feeling that we had pretty good chances on the server," frozen said of the match against MOUZ. "I'm just happy that we bounced back today and that we showed that they should not count us out."

Date	Matches
BLAST Premier World Final 2024
01/11/2024	FaZe 12:10 Spirit	Match

Today's victory puts FaZe on a collision course with the loser of G2 vs. Spirit. FaZe tend to be a different beast once they get into playoff mode, and frozen hopes his team can carry the momentum into what's left to play in 2024.

"I don't think we are that far from being where we were at the start with the form we had back then," he said. "Having a win like this today is a step in this direction, in my opinion."

You can listen to the interview on the widget above or by clicking here.

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Congratulations on the victory. How does it feel to get a win like this, a much-needed victory, I would say, after losing the first map the way you did?

Well, first of all, it feels great? We had some rough BO3s against this team. So it feels good to come on top finally. In general, I think it's an important win for us. Hopefully, a good step forward for us and we can steamroll from this.

It seems that there was a bit of banter after the game, where karrigan was saying, 'How about that, jL?' Was there anything going on? Can you explain it?

I mean, jL is always trying to be a little funny here and there, you know? So, I guess that was it, yeah.

You could sense the frustration in some of the team's players yesterday, especially yourself, when you were punching the table. After losing your map pick like that, are you happy with the way the team responded?

It's great that we can bounce back like this. Yesterday, I feel that, it's not like we played badly, but there was some bad decision-making, I would say, in the important rounds that cost us the game. And they obviously punished us, right? They played well. We just kind of left with the feeling that we had pretty good chances on the server. I'm just happy that we bounced back today and that we showed that they should not count us out.

In this series, you had a quiet first two maps, but then you had a great performance on Ancient. Are you happy with the way you played?

Yeah. I mean, always trying to do my job, right? There were some things outside of my control happening on the first map. But yeah, just happy that I bounced back.

You had lost the previous three matches against NAVI. One of the main talking points about them in this tournament is that it seems they took a bit of a step back. They were very tired after a busy period, so they may not have been in their best shape for this one. How did you feel about taking on NAVI? Was there anything different about them today?

I'm not really sure. Maybe it depends on what map. It's hard to say. I mean, I think they always show up pretty strong, no matter if they take a step back or not. Hard to say what's happening on their side of the camp.

NAVI are out of the way, Vitality have a stand-in. There are still some question marks about G2 and Spirit. How do you feel about your chances now? Because this is now the playoffs, this is FaZe territory, so how do you feel about your chances coming into the playoffs?

First of all, I think we're happy to be back in the playoffs since we had a couple of rough tournaments. Looking at the other teams, I feel that I just want to focus on ourselves. If we can come and play good Counter-Strike, I think we can put up a good show against anyone.

It has been a rough few months for the team, basically since Chengdu. What is the minimum goal for this tournament and what is the mindset heading into the final events of the season?

Always aiming high, you know? Always aiming for the trophies. Not much to say. I mean, it's the last two tournaments of the year, the most important ones. Here, there are only the top eight teams in the world. And obviously, the Major is coming up afterward. For the Major, the first goal is to make it there, right? And then, just take it stage by stage and game by game. But yeah, always aiming high.

And is everyone on the team still confident that you can turn it around?

I'm pretty sure, yeah. I mean, even with a rough period, I don't think we are that far from being where we were at the start with the form we had back then. Having a win like this today is a step in this direction, in my opinion.