Team Vitality is on a roll. After falling to the lower bracket due to a
loss in the group stage against Karmine Corp, the Hive is now clawing its way back up one match at a time, having defeated Spacestation Gaming 4–1 and now preparing to take on Manchester City next. If they win, the team will once again face their arch nemesis in the Blue Wall, in hopes of qualifying for the Grand Finals and bringing the
Rocket League Paris Major title home.
In an exclusive interview, head coach
Benjamin "Eversax" Wagner sat down with
Sheep Esports to discuss the team’s recent results, what’s to come for the squad, and his aspirations to win it all.
What are your thoughts like after such a clean win against Spacestation?
Benjamin "Eversax" Wagner: “Very happy. We really woke up yesterday and carried that momentum into today. I don’t think Spacestation were the strongest opponent we could have faced, but we played well and everything went smoothly.
There was a bit of trash talk around this match because of what happened last year. Was that on the minds of the players who were already there back then?
Eversax: Not really. Honestly, Spacestation were mostly the ones talking about us all week long. We answered on the field, and today they just weren’t on the same level. So yeah, obviously, it feels good to beat them.
Your next match will be against Manchester City. What do you think about this team, and what will be the keys to the match?
Eversax: They got hit pretty hard today. Beating NRG 3-0 obviously gives you confidence, but they probably got a bit of a reality check.
We’re used to playing against them in scrims and tournaments, so we know their playstyle very well. We know what we need to do to beat them. Now we just have to execute it properly.
William "ejby" Ejby Lorentzen compared Enzo "Seikoo" Grondein to Kevin De Bruyne. As a Belgian who coached Seikoo for two years, what do you think about that comparison?
Eversax: I can’t agree with that, because Seikoo scores goals—he doesn’t make the passes. But it’s true that he has a very special kind of talent. Sometimes it feels like he’s struggling a bit, and then suddenly he comes back and looks incredible again. I spent two years with him, so I have a huge amount of respect for him, and I’m happy that we get to face each other tomorrow.
Charles "juicy" Sabiani said Shopify Rebellion would be a “free win.” What do you think about this team?
Eversax: [Laughs] They have a pretty surprising playstyle. And individually, they’re still very strong players. To me, they’re probably the second-best team in North America.
They’re also a difficult team to read. If teams understand how to play against them, things can go south pretty quickly for Shopify. But if you let them build confidence and play at their own pace, they become really dangerous.
The group stage had been a bit difficult for you. What did you tell the players to bounce back in playoffs?
Eversax: We had a bad start to the tournament. Everyone wanted to do too much, so there was too much thinking and too many unnecessary thoughts in our heads.
The key message before yesterday was really simple: reset. Come in without overthinking, because we know we’re good, and we know how to play. We came in, played our game, enjoyed ourselves, and it worked out well.
Being on stage with our fans also helped us a lot. The players really feed off that energy, and it helped us truly get into the tournament.
You could end up playing three matches tomorrow before the final. What’s the plan for tonight?
Eversax: First of all, we’re going to eat, because we still haven’t eaten yet. Then we’ll try to use our time wisely while also letting the players recover, because tomorrow could be a very long day. We’ll see depending on the schedule and availability.
You won a Major with KC, then another with Gentle Mates. Would Paris be the perfect place to win a third one with Vitality?
Eversax: Yeah, definitely. I already thought it was going to happen in Boston, so hopefully it happens in Paris instead. What’s also really cool is discovering new players, new staffs, and new ways of working.
I think I’ve been able to bring in my own ideas while still keeping the organization’s identity, and so far it’s been working well. So yes, I’d be really happy to win a title here.
What does it feel like to play in front of the French crowd with a French team and other French players you know well?
Eversax: Honestly, it’s amazing.
I think this is one of the most enjoyable years because the top teams are all extremely close in level. Matches come down to small details: current form, game plans, things like that.
And playing in front of the French crowd is incredible. The noise is unreal. Sometimes, during the twenty seconds before kickoff, I can’t even talk because the fans are so loud despite the headsets. So yeah, it’s genuinely an exceptional experience.
For the rest of the tournament, would you rather have a “safe” bracket run to the final, or face KC and M8 along the way?
Eversax: Honestly, a victory in finals against M8 with a chance for revenge and a Major title on the line would be pretty cool.
That said, if we can win 4-0 against a team that isn’t playing well, I’ll take that too. At the end of the day, our one goal is to win the Major.
Can you reassure our Belgian bosses about Belgium’s chances at the Esports Nations Cup?
Eversax: What I can already say is that we’re preparing a few surprises — things people probably won’t expect.
I think we’ll have a good team with a great atmosphere, and hopefully we’ll have a strong tournament.
Obviously there are some really strong teams, but like I said yesterday on RTBF, reaching the semifinals would already be a very good result. Anything beyond that would just be a bonus.”
