NAF: "I already feel we're way better than what we had playing the previous years"

After Liquid stomped FaZe to secure a 2-1 victory and advance to the finals of Group C, the desk invited NAF on to talk about the thought process behind the game and the new Liquid. NAF spoke on the new roles he's been playing as well as how the European team vibes and meshes together.

The commentators said that this is looking like a rejuvenated Liquid. Are you feeling that?

Yeah. It feels really good. Playing with Patsi and Rainwaker, they just have a different mindset in the game compared to when we played with nitr0 and EliGE. I dunno, it's the European, CIS style. It's more grimy, it's more gritty. We just get into it and we get it done.

You talked about the mindset different. How does that translate into gameplay?

They just seem way more comfortable when they're playing. When we would come over [to Europe] in the past, it just felt like we were out of our comfort zone. We would feel like we're playing against foreign competition that we don't understand. With Patsi and how aggressive he is, and how much he's been playing with the Spirit guys, they play all the time. He just has a great understanding of being super aggressive, relentless, and not giving up. We have the polar opposite with Rainwaker since he's passive, great clutching, great late game ability as you could see in Mirage, we pulled it out with some late rounds. he helps us there. We've got the aggressive and we've got the passive.

Has it changed your space or role in the team at all?

With Rainwaker, he plays more of the passive lurk roles where I was playing those roles and always waiting until the end of the round to make my play. Now I have the option if I want to play passive or aggressive. I have the option to do it myself. It reminds me of the older years, playing back in 2018, 2019, kinda having more freedom. I feel like more of a star here again.

Are you communicating, sort of teaching him how to play those roles or are you letting him do it his way?

I firmly believe you need to come up with your own way of playing. Obviously, you can look at other players and other teams and steal ideas, but I believe you need do whatever makes you feel comfortable and at the end of the day you'll be the top player. You're not gonna be great if you're always trying to copy something.

Coming into this group, you had G2 and FaZe, you've taken down both of these teams, are you surprised you're playing this well this early on?

Obviously you can always chalk it up a little bit to a honeymoon phase, but I already feel we're way better than what we had playing the previous years. It just comes down to that European style, I believe. Playing with the CIS and European players, I feel like there's so much of a greater understanding of the game. It's more enjoyable, it's easier to play the games, I enjoy playing here.

We're seeing you and Patsi next to each other, handshakes and laughing. What's it like with him as a player and outside of the server?

Obviously he's a great guy, a young guy, like 19 years old. It's pretty strange, this is the first time I'm the oldest on the team. Ever since OpTiC, Renegades, Liquid, I've always been somewhat not the oldest and usually the youngest. It's like a breath of fresh air, and as I'm getting older I need to take on more responsibility of being that older brother guy.

Do you enjoy that responsibility?

It's fun, but it's just a part of life. You get older, you gotta change your obligations sometimes.

Liquid, now flawless in their first two games, are set to play the winner of G2 v. FaZe on Friday.