Following Team Vitality’s exit from the VALORANT VCT EMEA Stage 2 playoffs, Sheep Esports spoke to Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev about the team’s struggles against Natus Vincere, Saif "Sayf" Jibraeel impact on the team, his thoughts on longevity at the highest level, and how he continues to refine his approach as both a veteran player and one of Europe’s best aimers.

What happened against NAVI, and what aspects does the team need to work on to improve and become more dominant next season?

Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev: "Honestly, I’ll be blunt: I don’t even know if we’ll play with the same team. Everything could change. It’s the offseason now, and by the time we start again in January or February, who knows what the roster will look like? Maybe people leave, maybe I won't play here. Nobody knows. Our season ended, and we bombed out. Something went wrong, and we can’t even put a finger on it. We just didn’t play like we practiced. Sayf (Saif Jibraeel) came in, and in practice, things looked great; we felt confident, beating top teams, playing really well. But once we got here, everything just fell apart.

We heard that Sayf helped a lot, even during his break. Could you give us some insight on that?

Derke: Yeah, Sayf came in, identified our problems, and tried to fix them. He was communicating really well. I think for the short time he had, he did a great job. Maybe if he’d been with us earlier, it would have been even better, but with the time we had, we squeezed as much out of it as we could.

And in-game, what does Sayf bring compared to before in your opinion?

Derke: It’s his experience both as an IGL and as a veteran player. Sometimes he makes key mid-round calls, or he senses the timing of a hit before it happens. He’ll say, “They’re going to push now,” or suggest a quick adjustment. It’s not about taking over the calling; it’s just experience. And honestly, we needed someone like that.

You’ve been competing at the highest level for years. What do you think has allowed you to maintain longevity and consistency?

Derke: Well, I wouldn’t exactly call this year consistent. This is the first time I won't be participating in the VCT Champions. So it’s tough to answer. Obviously, something didn’t go right this year, whether it was my performance or the team’s overall. But if I had to say, consistency comes from sticking to routines. I don’t think there’s a blueprint. You just practice hard, keep your habits the same, and that stability translates into consistent play. If you change everything every week, you’ll become inconsistent.

Bartosz "UNFAKE" Bernacki join as IGL straight from Challengers France. How do you think he handled that role, and what are his strengths?

Derke: He’s a solid caller. Maybe not yet the type of leader who rallies the troops emotionally, but tactically, he makes good calls. On top of that, he had strong performances himself, multi-kills, and impact rounds. I think with more Tier 1 experience, he’ll only get better. The only issue was maybe he respected me and Less (Felipe Basso) a bit too much. Sometimes he’d overthink because he listened to us too closely, trying to make everyone happy instead of just going with his own instincts. I always told him, “Do whatever you feel is right,” but he’d say, “Yeah, but you guys suggested this.” That hesitation hurt sometimes. Ideally, an IGL needs to be firm and just lead, even if veterans disagree.

How has your way of handling pressure evolved from your early days to now?

Derke: I’ve played so many high-stakes games, grand finals, lower brackets, you name it. I’ve won some, lost others. You get used to it, and that’s what experience really means. Maybe some of my teammates felt extra nervous on stage this time, but for me, it’s just another match. Of course, the stakes are high, but after so many years, you learn to control it.

Personally, what’s one specific area you’re focusing on improving?

Derke: For me, it’s the emotional side. At times during the season, I wasn’t the best emotionally toward my teammates. Maybe I was too rough with my words or tone, and I should’ve taken a moment to breathe before speaking. That not only impacts them, but also me. If I fix that, I think it will elevate my whole game and my team.

From your past, many people consider you one of the best aimers in Europe. What does your routine look like to keep your aim sharp and consistent?

Derke: It’s all about routine. Before practice or ranked, I warm up in the range for five or ten minutes, then hop into three deathmatches. Sometimes, before bed, if I don’t feel like playing ranked, I’ll grind 10 or 15 DM just to keep my mechanics sharp. It’s simple, but it works."