When Team Liquid met Cloud9 in the finals of the 2021 League of Legends Championship Series Lock In, it wasn't just about the two best teams facing each other. One could argue that both C9 and TL possess the top 2 players in every role except in top, and by the time the dust settled on TL's 3-2 triumph over C9, it was clear that both the teams were a step ahead of the rest of the North American squads in terms of early-season form.

Cloud9 mid laner Luka "Perkz" Perković was strong in the series, but Team Liquid's Nicolaj "Jensen" Jensen was stronger, doing his best to match Perkz's map movements and team play while taking any advantage available in the 1v1 mid lane matchup.

After TL hoisted its trophy — digitally and remotely, of course — Jensen joined the LCS broadcast for a post-game interview with James "Dash" Patterson. When asked about the mid lane pool in the 2021 LCS season, Jensen pondered that the retirement of legacy TSM mid laner Søren "Bjergsen" Bjerg might be a bigger loss to the mid lane talent pool overall than Perkz and any other new signing could counterbalance.

"I think the loss of Bjergsen might actually be bigger than what we've gained," Jensen explained. "In terms of mid lane talent, this year at least, I always felt like I learned more from playing against Bjergsen compared to what I've learned so far this year."

Jensen went on to say that he felt he was the best mid laner in the LCS heading into the Lock In, and his performance in the tournament has only reinforced his case as such. The 2021 LCS Spring Split begins on Friday, February 5. 

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