mopoz on Vitality–M8s rivalry: “Maybe today we showed who’s the best baguette”

mopoz on Vitality–M8s rivalry: “Maybe today we showed who’s the best baguette”

Spanish player Alejandro “mopoz” Fernández-Quejo Cano spoke after Gentle Mates’ surprising upset over Team Vitality in the first round of ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 2, touching on the rivalry between the French organizations, team form, and internal goals. 

The Upset & the Context

Gentle Mates, a French-rooted Spanish team, entered Stage 2 with momentum, having advanced through Stage 1 with wins over HEROIC, G2, and Legacy. Their victory over Vitality, a heavy favorite, added fuel to the narrative of a rivalry. 

Gentle Mates’ French ties are notable: the organization was founded by former Vitality co-founders, which adds a layer of history and tension to their encounters. 

mopoz: Reflections on the Match & Rivalry

When asked how much of a surprise the win was:

“It was unexpected for us as well, as it was for the people. … Right now, everything we have been working for has paid off, so we are hungry for the next games.” 

On whether Vitality may have underestimated Gentle Mates:

“Maybe. … of course there is always going to be kinda underestimating from the best team in the world.” 

Regarding the organizational rivalry:

“About the banter, … there is banter between them, so I think maybe today we showed who’s the best baguette (smiles).” 

On apEX’s comment after the match—he allegedly said something like “Ayaya, losing to noobies” during the handshake:

“We don’t take it into account, we don’t even fucking care.” 

mopoz interpreted it as typical banter from apEX:

“Dan [apEX] is … always likes to [say] things like that.” 

He said their focus remains on process, not distraction. 

Broader Implications & Team Trajectory

Gentle Mates has endured a volatile period. After finishing 4th at StarSeries Fall, they had an early exit at Birch Cup (13th–16th). Still, mopoz noted the team consciously shifted their mindset:

“We had a talk, we said we need to forget everything about that. … If the Major comes, we are going to get it, but if not, we just keep going on our path and just focus on tier-one tournaments.” 

He stressed the grind: moving up from top-100 to nearer top-30 was a process.  He acknowledged internal help:

“Our coach and a friend of his helped us to understand the Valve Ranking System … we just started going to those LAN events.” 

After beating Vitality, mopoz believes momentum and confidence are on their side:

“Beating Vitality is going to give us a lot of confidence. … we are going to keep thinking the same way, just enjoy the moment, be in the present, and give it our all.” 

He also emphasized that in CS2, many teams—even from lower tiers—can make a run for the playoffs, so nothing is out of reach. 

Additional Discussion & Context

The moniker “best baguette” is a playful jab at the French identity of Vitality, tying into the rivalry’s nationalistic undertones.

Comment sections from HLTV showed fans picking up on the quip, with remarks such as “Damn, mopoz pls show me ur baguette” and others referencing the “baguette battle.”

The rivalry has not been deeply chronicled before, but the fact that Gentle Mates was founded by ex-Vitality stakeholders adds a unique narrative thread.