Striking an important victory against GIANTX, the young squad of
Team Vitality now advances to the playoffs of the
League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC). Acting as dark horses, the team surprised many and exceeded most fans' expectations by ending their first split with a 5-4 score. With a greater test ahead, Mateusz “
Czajek" Czajka, the team's new midlaner, dives into his entry into the league, maintains a positive outlook on the team's growth, and discusses expectations for playoffs.
Czajek celebrates after another victory. Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
How does it feel to beat GIANTX to finish the group stage?
Mateusz “Czajek" Czajka: "Obviously, it feels great, especially winning against such a strong opponent. Honestly, they were one of the best teams we faced in scrims. We’ve also improved a lot, and I think we’re showing that with every stage game we play. Even against Karmine Corp, we had a pretty good early game, but we just threw that match. Right now, I think we’re doing pretty well even in our losses.
I noticed your banter with Adam "Jackies" Jeřábek before the match. Were the stakes higher than usual for you?
Czajek: Not really, we’re just good friends, that’s all. There’s no grudge or anything.
What changed for Vitality from the start of the split to now?
Czajek: We've improved a lot in our map openings. We’re playing much faster games than we did in previous weeks. That’s what has helped us play better in the early game and mid game. Even in our last two games, our Nashor pushes were kind of insane in my opinion. We're improving very quickly.
There has been a lot of discussions around Zdravets "Hylissang" Galabov. What are your thoughts on playing with him? Are you learning from him?
Czajek: I think he was just having one of his bad days [laughs]. Overall, Hylissang is insane—probably the best support I’ve ever played with. His mechanics, his game knowledge, it’s all incredible. He’s helping me a lot. We review a lot of our scrim games and official matches together, and he points out small details that can actually make a big difference in the game. He’s helping all of us grow and I really appreciate what he brings.
You used to have some of the worst laning stats in the LFL but improved over time. Even though there is still work to be done, are you happy with how you've transitioned to the LEC so far?
Czajek: I’m pretty happy. I had a couple of really good games, but also a few bad ones, especially against KOI and Karmine Corp. But overall, I’m satisfied with my performance. Last summer, especially when we went to the EMEA Masters, I improved a lot because Pad (Patrick Suckow-Breum) helped me a lot at that time. And I know I can still do even better now. I feel very confident right now.
Despite being in a new environment, Czajek is showing up. Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
Can you tell me more about your relations with your coaching staff? How are they following your growth?
Czajek: Our coaching staff has a lot of different and diverse perspectives, which I think is a good thing. We have Mac (James MacCormack), Kaas (Christophe van Oudheusden), and Pad, but I also have my own positional coach, Lukezy (Luka Trumbić), who’s keeping an eye on me. After each scrim game, we rewatched my laning phase, so he kind of took over the role that Pad was handling before. Lukezy has been in charge of helping me improve specific aspects of how I play and helping me grow.
Vitality is often talked about as a long-term project. What is your mentality going into this roster, and what are your goals for the future? Do you already want to win the LEC and go to Worlds this year?
Czajek: I would really love to go to an international event for sure—that’s something I’m aiming for. We’ve already made playoffs, so that’s one thing checked off the list. Reaching the LEC semifinals or finals is also something I hope to achieve this year.
Do you think this team will keep improving as the year goes on? A lot of people expect Vitality to be better in spring and summer, but you’re already performing well...
Czajek: If we keep the stable form we’ve shown in the last two days, it’ll only get better. We’re doing pretty well right now, and I just hope we can keep it up.
There were some rumors that Vitality’s scrims weren’t going so well. How are things going behind the scenes? Are your results representative of your practice?
Czajek: We only had maybe one or two bad practice days with scrims from what I can remember. Other than that, we didn’t have any bad scrims. For the last 20 days, scrimming has actually been really enjoyable and productive honestly.
What do you think of the level of the league so far? A lot of rookies feel like it’s a huge step up from the regional leagues and mention how they learn much faster from playing in the LEC.
Czajek: I can tell you that the midlaners here, in terms of how they play mechanically, aren’t that much different from top LFL teams. Lane-wise, it’s pretty similar. But I think the teams are better in other aspects—they’re more coordinated. Overall, the level of coordination is much better, but individual mechanical skill of players has honestly felt very similar to last year in the LFL.
Vitality celebrates after a victory. Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
What do you think of the atmosphere at Vitality? How does it compare to last year?
Czajek: Honestly, I love it so far. We have such a great atmosphere in the team. Everyone is cracking jokes, and it’s always so funny in the office. I really enjoy it.
What do you think we can expect from the playoffs?
Czajek: You can expect us to go far, that’s for sure.
Any teams you’d like to take down?
Czajek: I would really love to take down KC and get my revenge. But other than that, I don’t mind what match we end up drawing. We're ready to play against anyone.
Do you have closing words for Vitality fans?
Czajek: Thank you very much guys for supporting us. I see a lot of messages on Twitter and Instagram, and I'm really glad we have you. I hope to make you proud and that you'll keep the positive energy up."
Header Photo Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
