“Without a doubt, this is the most important match in the history of the Portuguese team in international competitions. The Portuguese team seems to have never been on such a stage. We have made history for Portuguese CS through our journey at IEM Cologne! Reaching the knockout stage was something I never expected, so we must enjoy this moment because it is historic for our country and players. I am now the happiest person in the world because I have realized my dream.”
SAW's victory is largely due to the performance of MUTiRiS as the captain, but also thanks to the individual performances of the players. On the deciding map Nuke, this Portuguese player secured a 1V4 clutch, helping the team win the match smoothly.
“At that moment, I didn't realize how significant that round was, I was just focused on the match. After winning that clutch, my heart was filled with joy. It was definitely the best round of my life. In such an arena, against FaZe, in the knockout stage of IEM Cologne, winning such a clutch was something I never dreamed of, and I am very happy to have done it.”
Even ESL analysts pointed out that in the match between SAW and FaZe, the latter was under the most pressure, while the former had nothing to lose. MUTiRiS disagreed with this view.
“People say there is no pressure, but I think that's wrong because if we are competitive, we must bear at least a small amount of pressure. Now, what we need to do is use this pressure in a good way to motivate ourselves and stay focused.
We know we will face a great team, known for their devilish performance on such big stages. We are here to compete, to prove whether we are just here to reach the knockout stage or to fight alongside the strongest teams in the world. We did it, and I am very happy.”
Next, SAW will face an even more important match, as the Portuguese team will meet Vitality in the semifinals. MUTiRiS talked about the measures the team needs to take to secure another great victory.
“It will be a very difficult match, I don't even know which maps we will play, we need to study them. But if we keep the same mindset, I think we have a chance to make a difference. From the beginning, I told my teammates: 'When the dream is big enough, you must achieve it.'”
