After a 2-0 win over MIBR, the Danish AWPer gave an interview to HLTV, where he reflected on the team’s performance, the level of competition, and their title chances.
“We’re still a bit rusty, but we’ve learned a lot”
In his interview with HLTV, Nicolai “device” Reedtz admitted that the loss to TYLOO was painful, but educational. According to him, the team made several mistakes in key rounds, but he also acknowledged the strong individual performance from their opponents:
“In CS2, a single kill can often decide a round. They were really hitting their shots.”
device also showed respect towards Astralis’ next opponent, Lynn Vision, despite their underdog status. He recalled a heavy loss against them at the CS Asia Championships 2023.
As for being one of the favorites in the playoffs, device emphasized:
“Pressure has to be a privilege. It’s not been like this in a long time. I think it will help us.”
Astralis are not at their peak — but on the right path
This interview feels honest and balanced. device doesn’t overhype the team’s current form — in fact, he openly admits they are “rusty” after a break and acknowledges their flaws in the TYLOO match. Still, his calm and confidence in Astralis’ development reflect maturity. He’s not making excuses, instead focusing on “fewer mistakes from game to game” as the primary goal.
At the same time, there’s a noticeable new energy in the team — with HooXi’s arrival, consistent playoff appearances, and a focus on fundamentals. This is no longer the legendary Astralis of 2018–2019, but also not the chaotic version of 2022. device sees this squad as one that can fight for trophies again — and it sounds genuine.
Will this interview change anything?
Yes — primarily for Astralis themselves.
This isn’t a bold declaration like “we will win the tournament,” but it could mark a key internal turning point. Publicly recognizing issues while showing calm confidence in their work creates a healthy mental environment. For a team that hasn’t lifted a trophy since 2019, that’s crucial.
It’s also a message to the fans: this team isn’t living in the past, nor rushing empty promises. If Astralis reach the final or win FISSURE Playground 1, this interview with device could be remembered as the moment when the team started believing in themselves again.
