G2 Isma discusses what it takes for a roster to reach the LEC, and hints at huge adjustments coming to G2 Esports subsequent season.
G2 Esports exits the worldwide stage after a disappointing collection loss towards Bilibili Gaming, a repeat of final yr’s outcomes. However regardless of outlasting different EMEA rosters, the Kings of Europe are nonetheless aiming excessive till they beat the East — and G2’s coach gave us uncommon insights on how they’re laying the foundations for larger wins.
In an unique interview with ESTNN, Efficiency Coach Ismael “Isma” Pedraza displays on the Samurai’s 2024 run, their lacklustre file at Worlds, and what it takes to take care of Europe’s star roster.
How is G2 Esports selecting themselves again up after one other tough Worlds run?
“It is extremely unhappy for certain. A few of our gamers would say that our yr was a failure. There’s a little frustration within the sense that we knew we might have carried out perhaps higher, or [taken] video games from the Asian groups. Proper now that it is the low season, a number of the gamers are assimilating that perhaps they did not obtain what they wished to realize performance-wise, and searching into what occurs subsequent. It is simply the pure means of efficiency that on the finish of the yr; just one crew goes to be comfortable, and that is simply the best way it’s.”
What particular strengths did the teaching crew concentrate on this season to assist the boys carry out at MSI and Worlds 2024?
“So for this yr, it was quite a bit about implementing lots of [the] learnings we get from worldwide occasions, particularly from final yr into this yr.. Throughout our native competitions, we received the chance to enhance a few of these strengths like BrokenBlade’s management and — from my perspective in my position — how he manages components from the day-to-day.
Which facets of your life do you attempt to instill into Caps and co. to fortify their psychological?
“I imply, finishing the [Berlin] marathon was clearly considered one of my largest targets. I come from conventional sports activities, and competing in soccer. And with all of the depth we had this yr, I can present the blokes that whereas we’re competing at a excessive stage in esports, there’s time and house for different actions.
I principally lead by instance, proper? There are various issues I do for myself when it comes to restoration, diet, sleep and mindset. There’s additionally a variety of instruments I implement [both] on myself and my crew. These are other ways to point out we would like excessive requirements for the crew, we wish to attain our targets, [so] you also needs to have excessive requirements for your self as an individual.
We’re 24/7 with the blokes. The consistency [we’ve] constructed begins with our crew, and it is strengthened every day.”
How do you steadiness engaged on what you suppose the boys want to enhance on vs. what the followers suppose?
“This can be a difficult one as a result of, like a brand new yr and a brand new crew.. for instance you begin a brand new season with a special crew. This can include a primary understanding of the place we’re on that scale of weaknesses and strengths. As [for] efficiency, you possibly can all the time implement the technique the place you’re employed in your weaknesses throughout the low season or the pre-season after which reinforce the issues you’re good at in a spot just like the LEC. The splits have been tremendous quick, so it is actually laborious to mix them and work in your weaknesses like in Playoffs for instance. I do not suppose it’s best to do this in any respect.”
Which participant has impressed probably the most progress within the crew not too long ago?
All of them encourage on particular ranges. The straightforward alternative is for certain Yike, within the sense that he is getting increasingly expertise on the skilled stage. That is his second yr professionally, and he is acting at a excessive stage. His Worlds was laborious [behind the scenes] as a result of there have been rumors concerning the change, and — only for gamers typically in esports — having this behind their [minds] isn’t that simple.
So for him to maintain his composure, to nonetheless do his finest, nonetheless present up and be aware about issues that we have been engaged on the previous couple of years is one thing to be happy with. I feel [Yike] is the participant I’ve labored with probably the most this yr, so I am very happy with the work we did, and the way he confirmed up in tough moments.
One which many followers do not get to see (as a result of I learn many feedback) that impressed me is Hans Sama as a result of folks do not actually see what he does within the crew. His management expertise have improved quite a bit, extra on the extent of in-game perspective. play the sport, what he wants from his teammates, or beginning the dialog on ‘how we must always play higher right here or there’.
A variety of macroplay components. So I feel he does quite a bit for the crew, and he was probably the most constant this yr. Folks might say in any other case as a result of he isn’t as flashy as different ADC’s. I feel what he does in comms and follow may be very spectacular. When he is at this stage, we name it his “Soldier Mode”. Nothing impacts him, he is very environment friendly and really stable. However not lots of people noticed that. And that is one thing that is impressed me for certain.
Will there be any adjustments in G2’s method subsequent season?
“All of us within the workers are very reflective, and we assist one another quite a bit [to] make issues work. So if we perceive these and have open-minded gamers nonetheless — as a result of for the final two years, these gamers have been very open-minded and prepared to decide to our processes and follow it..
So as a result of we perceive them, we’ll go to our “again to high school” workshops in a couple of weeks and lay out the foundations. I feel we’ll have the ability to construct on what we have been constructing, and we nonetheless have the core gamers within the crew. We’ll have the ability to share the work, and I feel this is essential: to share what we’ve completed and share what we went by way of and [teach] how we solved the puzzles after they had been nearly unattainable to resolve.
So that is how it should look within the 2025 season. Outcomes-wise, it is all the time one thing you can’t predict 100%. However from my place, I can not say that we are going to win like we did this yr as a result of all of it will depend on the method. All of it will depend on how we are able to put the items collectively — as a result of we can have new items — and ensure they slot in very effectively.
It by no means will get boring! We all the time should face the challenges, and hopefully we’ll obtain results-wise what we achieved this yr and proceed build up internationally. As a result of that is nonetheless the objective, proper?”
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