iM: ‘F***ing s**t’ after NAVI upset by M80

Natus Vincere were upset by M80 in their BLAST Open Porto opener, losing the series 2-1 and dropping into the lower bracket. NAVI took the first map on Anubis but surrendered Mirage and Inferno.

Mihai ‘iM’ Ivan reacted bluntly after the match with an expletive: ‘F***ing s**t, that’s the first thought.’ He described the team as prepared for the expected maps but unable to execute on small details, citing mistimed decisions and lost full USP rounds that harmed their defensive half on Mirage.

iM pointed to both tactical errors and mental lapses. He said the squad had clear plans for Mirage and Inferno but could not convert them during the match, and that some players became frustrated after the opener, which affected follow-up plays.

The result follows NAVI’s round-of-16 exit at the Esports World Cup. iM acknowledged the team skipped an early tournament to focus on practice and accepted that fewer official matches may have reduced match sharpness under pressure.

Coach Andrey ‘B1ad3’ Gorodenskiy revealed the organisation explored roster changes during the off-season but kept the same lineup. iM rejected the suggestion that those discussions are impacting on-stage performance.

NAVI now face elimination matches in Porto. iM urged the squad to regain confidence and recover VRS ranking points by improving tactical execution and mental resilience in the lower bracket.