Memoir of a comeback - The Veteran: KRU Klaus after a win over MIBR

In the previous part of the series, we interviewed KRU Atom after their win over MIBR. Immediately after KRU Atom, Strafe interviewed KRU’s IGL Nicolas “Klaus” Ferrari. Starting with the team in 2021, Klaus has been an essential part of KRU’s success over the years. Starting his Valorant career with Argentine LBS esports, Klaus was the starting member of KRU esports Valorant division. He joined the team in 2021 with aks, Leabos, Mazino and NagZ. He is the only second member remaining from the original roster along with NagZ.

During the miraculous LCQ run, Klaus led the team as the IGL and was a crucial and integral part of the team's firepower and attack set plays. He was the consistent figure in KRU’s efforts and a strong pillar everyone can fall back to. In the interview, KRU Klaus talks about the MIBR game, replicating scrims and more.

Q. Congratulations on the win. How are you feeling after the win?

KRU Klaus: “I am feeling good obviously but the job is not done”

Q. What was the key ingredient in today’s victory?

KRU Klaus: “We prepared better mentally than the last time. We just came with a better mentality. I don’t think we were a bad team but we are a better team now, we needed the win and we can with a better mental and a new face”

Q. KRU had trouble closing out the games, despite the strong first half. Do you think that would be an issue in the later stages of the LCQ?

KRU Klaus: “If NagZ wouldn’t have won the last round the way he did, we could’ve had a rough time on the map. It could’ve gone all wrong. We didn’t have any momentum on our side, they won six rounds in a row, so it could’ve been a bad situation”

Q. What do you think was the major problem with KRU not being able to close the maps?

KRU Klaus: “It kinda hurtful for us. All the maps we played in the league were close. In the nine games we played, we had seven chances to close out the series. It was kinda rough for us, because we needed that last round to win the game and we lost that nine times. It wasn’t a result that reflected our true potential, it didn’t feel like 0-9, we felt we were better than a lot of teams, but we couldn’t close the maps so that’s it”

Q. Atom previously mentioned, the problem with the team was the mentality and inability to replicate the scrims and playing your own game. What are your thoughts on this as the IGL of the team?

KRU Klaus: “The difference between the KRU that played the league and the KRU in the LCQ is that we came better prepared. We took it more seriously, we came in with a better mental. As a team, we tried to replicate that in the tournament. We couldn’t concentrate 100% on our scrims, our preparation. In the past month and half that we trained we gave our 100% and it reflects in the win today.”

Q. What are your thoughts on your own performance today and overall?

KRU Klaus: “I think today was good. My performance was much better than the regular season but for me I need to keep playing better because during the regular season I had a really rough time. I definitely feel better now but I feel I can give more of myself to the game. I am pretty comfortable but I feel I am only doing 80% of what I can do, I feel I can do better”

Q. What are your thoughts on FURIA as a team?

KRU Klaus: “I think they are a really good team. I don’t want to say this but they are very similar to us. They have pretty good firepower, I think they are amongst the top teams in terms of firepower. I don’t know who is going to play, there are rumors that qck is going to play or konan, I don’t know. But they’re a really good team with heavy firepower, so it is going to be a really intense match.”

Q. Any player from FURIA you’d look out for?

KRU Klaus: “Nah”

Q. Do you think playing another elimination game against FURIA tomorrow might burden you guys and impact your performance at all?

KRU Klaus: “I think it’s better this way. We have momentum when we play games back to back. And then the momentum helps you to play better, I feel better when we play back to back games. Obviously it is going to be stressful but also FURIA’s first game after two months would be against us with momentum. So I think we have that advantage over them that we played today and again tomorrow, we’d be more comfortable”

Q. How much does the match win over MIBR help you in the FURIA game?

KRU Klaus: “Obviously, it was a very good confidence boost. But you have to watch the other team. They haven't played in three months or two months, they are going to perform well. I think it is going to be an interesting match.”

Q. Is there any team you want to face in the LCQ?

KRU Klaus: “I think Sentinels. They are preparing really well in the tournament. According to me, they are the strongest team in the LCQ right now. So I want to play against them”

Klaus continued his top class performance throughout the LCQ. He finished the LCQ amongst the top ten rated players in the event. As discussed in the last part, the next game for the team was against FURIA. FURIA in themselves are a strong team and the challenge for KRU will only get stronger from here. Stay tuned with Strafe as the next part will feature Daveeys who plays the Sentinel role for KRU after KRU’s FURIA game.

Credits: Riot Games // VCT Americas