After defeating NAVI and securing a playoff spot at IEM Cologne 2025, MOUZ player Dorian “xertioN” Berman gave an interview to HLTV where he shared his impressions of the match, discussed the team’s preparation for the tournament, and outlined their ambition to finally challenge Vitality this season.
Comeback with character and a surprise from NAVI
In the decisive match for a playoff spot at IEM Cologne 2025, MOUZ defeated NAVI 2–0, showing both resilience and mental strength. On both maps — Mirage and Nuke — the first halves belonged to NAVI, with scores of 7–5 and 9–3 respectively. However, MOUZ managed to come back on both maps and closed out the series without dropping a map.
After the match, Israeli player Dorian “xertioN” Berman commented on NAVI’s unexpectedly strong start:
“They caught us off-guard, especially on the Mirage T side. They brought a lot of fire and momentum we didn’t expect from the beginning, so we had to claw back twice,” the Israeli said.
He also highlighted Drin “makazze” Shaqiri, NAVI’s new addition who replaced jL:
“They changed quite a lot. makazze is a good raw individual, and I think they’re using him pretty aggressively. It’s very different from jL, and we also noticed some position changes on Nuke.”
Bootcamp, focus, and confidence
MOUZ entered the new season with no roster changes, having completed a full bootcamp ahead of IEM Cologne. According to xertioN, the start of the preparation was chaotic — the team was “trolling, missing a lot, and communication was terrible” after the player break. However, by the time the tournament began, MOUZ had regained their form.
“We came really prepared for this tournament. We knew we’re still one of the top teams, and I’m happy we proved that again. We feel confident and ready, no matter who our next opponent is — Aurora or Spirit.”
In the Group B winners’ match, MOUZ will face Spirit, with the victor advancing directly to the semifinals at LANXESS Arena.
No changes — big ambitions
After reaching the final of BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, MOUZ kept their roster intact. Unlike many competitors who made changes during the off-season, the team maintained stability and continued to refine their in-game synergy.
“Last season we started with a new player, so we had to change the system a lot. This time, it’s different. We’re working on every round and every little detail, and hopefully this season we’ll finally be able to beat Vitality at least once,” xertioN said.
Vitality remain the main favorites of the season, but MOUZ are slowly closing the gap — staying consistent and showing a high level of performance across tournaments.
Confidence vs. stats: can MOUZ stop Spirit?
xertioN’s interview gives the impression of a confident and composed player who believes in his team — not just in words, but through consistent progress and hard work. And indeed, MOUZ look well-structured, disciplined, and in form. But their next match will be the real test.
Their upcoming opponent is Spirit, a team currently playing at an almost flawless level. Their main weapon — donk — boasts an insane 1.71 rating at IEM Cologne, making him the top performer of the tournament. Alongside him, sh1ro brings elite-level consistency with a 1.40 rating.
MOUZ have their own firepower to respond: torzsi is playing with a 1.33 rating, and xertioN has 1.26, placing both in the top ten players of the group stage. This shows that MOUZ aren’t just surviving — they’re competing with the best.
Still, confidence alone won’t be enough to beat Spirit. They’ll need to contain donk (a near-impossible task), avoid slow starts, and play flawlessly in key moments. MOUZ have a real chance — not as favorites, but as a team that has proven time and again their ability to rise under pressure. And if anyone can challenge Spirit — it’s them.
Source: hltv.org
