Team Liquid exits yet another tournament with disappointment, managing only one victory against M80 in Atlanta. This ongoing struggle has relegated them to a worrying position outside the top 30 of the VRS standings, highlighting persistent challenges that the team has yet to overcome this season.
In a discussion, Liquid’s head coach acknowledged the team’s current shortcomings, articulating concerns about performance and mentality. The team seems to be competing with a mindset of merely avoiding losses rather than striving for victories.
What were the key issues today against GamerLegion that hindered your performance?
The main problem was our inability to counter anti-force buys effectively. We stumbled in many advantageous situations and suffered from a slow start—this has been a recurring theme in our previous matches.
Do you have insights into why the team often begins series sluggishly?
It’s a multifaceted concern. We struggle to implement our strategies accurately, lacking the necessary precision.
If you were to reassess the strategy, what areas would you target for change?
Our primary focus will be on enhancing our mental preparation, as this is crucial to overcoming these sluggish beginnings.
How is siuhy adapting to his new role, particularly after struggling at this event?
Since malbsMd’s arrival, siuhy has had to adjust to different positions. It’s been a challenging transition, but I believe he will adapt in due time. New roles require rebuilding team chemistry, which takes time and effort.
Coach mentioned that practice sessions have been productive, yet the results haven’t reflected that in competitions. Why do you think this disconnect exists?
I believe the disconnect stems from our mental state. Our confidence has taken a hit due to consecutive losses, which inhibits our performance when it matters most. We’re currently playing to avoid losing rather than to secure wins, impacting our ability to take control of the game.
With confidence dwindling, do you think the team risks spiraling further downward? How can you prevent that?
The issue isn’t solely a psychological one. It involves our collective effort to regain our footing amid challenging results. While we’re working on fixing existing issues, new challenges continually emerge, complicating our path to improvement.
Heading into the CAC, what are your priorities for addressing these issues?
We plan to tackle the specific problems we encountered in our last two games, as they are quite evident. We hope to see improvements in a short timeframe.
Will the team approach the CAC with a mindset of winning rather than simply avoiding losses?
Absolutely. We need to frame our mindset around winning, especially as Team Liquid. Our current outcomes are unacceptable, and we must strive for better performance.
Liquid is now preparing for its next challenge in China, with their first match set for May 20th.