NertZ: "Two years ago I was full passive, and this is something I didn't like"

The Israeli player is enjoying life on his new team.

Liquid live to fight another day at IEM Katowice following a 2-0 victory against an under-strength MOUZ. Their first win of Stage 2 was decorated by an imperious display from Guy "⁠NertZ⁠" Iluz, who posted 1.70 ratings on both maps.

It has been a bright start to his Liquid tenure from the Israeli following his signing from HEROIC at the end of 2024. He is averaging a 1.31 rating as the tip of the spear, playing a much more active style than on his previous teams.

"I feel like the aggressive role fits me more; I didn't like the passive role," he told HLTV.

"For me, I prefer not to be in the clutch and just to play in front of the team, and this is something that I really like to do."

The victory over MOUZ will put Liquid on a collision course with either Spirit or Natus Vincere in the next round. Questioned about the tough scenarios ahead, NertZ revealed that he would relish the opportunity to get revenge on Spirit after losing the last seven matches against the Russians.

"I have never defeated Spirit in CS2, so for me this is something that I want; I want to play against them and it's important for me," he said.

"Against NAVI, we win, lose, win, lose... I want to have the tough match tomorrow."

First of all, let's talk about joining Liquid. How did it go from your perspective, saying yes to this offer, and what were the biggest reasons behind it?

Liquid is a legendary organization, and it's important to me to say I represent one of the biggest orgs in the world. Also, the players, it wasn't the first time that they were trying to reach me, and the second time I felt this was the time to do it.

For you it's the second similar move in two years, the core gets bought out while you join a different team. How is it for you, having made two big decisions in your career twice in a row?

I think Falcons are trying to make me retire from the game (laughs). Joking aside, for example in ENCE it didn't happen [like this], I already knew I was going to move, and also in HEROIC I already knew I was going to move. It seems like I'm jumping from team to team, but I think I'm making good progress.

It came with a couple of changes for you, but you've been doing very well so far, if stats are anything to go by. How comfortable are you?

We need to think that I was full passive two years ago. I was the full lurker, the passive lurker, and this is something that I didn't like. My past teams knew about it. When I had the option, I tried to push it, to be playing more aggressive. In Liquid, they just said, 'We believe in you, let's go for it, you will be the controller', and this is something I really like and I feel like I will keep improving and improving.

On your previous teams, you were starting from lurk spots but being aggressive in that, this time it's more of a spacetaker role. Does that fit you more, then?

For sure, for sure. I feel like the aggressive role fits me more, I didn't like the passive role. For me, I prefer not to be in the clutch and just to play in front of the team, and this is something that I really like to do, yeah.

At the beginning you had a couple of losses to HEROIC, now getting to this point in Katowice being 1-1 in the second stage, how have the results gone so far?

From the online tournament, you could see my stats, I'm always playing shit online. It's a little bit unfortunate. I will give it to HEROIC, they are playing really well online and offline. After it, I felt like we were in the right direction, we had a big convo about what we needed to do better.

Even though we lost to MongolZ, we are playing really well. No matter what, I'm never saying this, but we should not have lost to The MongolZ. What happened... It is what it is, it's unlucky. The best feeling in CS is when you're feeling you're making progress as a team, and this is what I feel right now.

There was a lot of chaos in The MongolZ game. Did it feel like that in the game, and do you think that's part of the growing pains that Liquid has gone through?

I don't think it was chaotic at all. It's a snowball, from the pistol round and after it, I feel like it affected the CT and T side. I think it's also a snowball that came in Ancient in the third map, so this is a bit unfortunate. Sometimes, this is CS.

Next up, you were just saying before the interview that you were looking forward to playing NAVI or Spirit. A tough matchup to play in the lower bracket - what do you think?

It's going to be tough, for sure. I have already played against NAVI a couple of times and also against Spirit. The thing is, right now Spirit is on another level, and I have never defeated Spirit in CS2, so for me this is something that I want; I want to play against them and it's important for me. Against NAVI, we win, lose, win, lose... I want to have the tough match tomorrow.

Early into the year, there are always going to be some growing pains, but how much pressure are you putting on yourselves to have a good result from the start?

I would say Liquid, in any game, needs to feel the pressure. They need to show themselves to be better, to show good results. But I feel like right now what we are doing it's a new Liquid. It's not the Liquid with YEKINDAR, this is Liquid with NertZ, and this is something that everyone right now is suffering from because of it. I feel like with time we will be better and better because of it.