Following the most dramatic of game-three losses against home favourites Movistar KOI, Fnatic closed out their appearance in Madrid’s LEC roadshow with a big derby win over long-time rivals G2. We spoke to top laner Óscar “Oscarinin” Muñoz for an interview after the 2-1 win.
Image credit: Riot Games
Esports.net: You said in a post that you were glad to win after a “strange” game one loss.
What made it a strange game for you?
Oscarinin: I think we didn’t enter the game too focused, I would say, and we just fought too much, or we didn’t listen too much to each other — what we were saying in the comms. And I think we were taking too many fights or just kind of trolling. So yeah, we just played really bad that game. But after that we talked and we said; “Okay, let’s wake up a bit and let’s listen to each other”. And yeah, then games two and three were way better.
Do you think the comms issue was down to the weight of the event? Do you think it’s affected things?
Oscarinin: I think obviously being here, it’s always harder to listen to each other because of the noise and the crowd in general. But I think we were also doing a poor job at trying to understand each other — to listen. So yeah, I think it was mostly not listening to each other and not making plans properly.
Lee Jones: How have you found the experience here?
How was it playing a derby in such an arena in comparison to the studio matches?
Oscarinin: I was talking with Ivan (Razork) and with my team in general and I was saying that it doesn’t feel like it’s a normal regular split game. It feels like it’s something way bigger just because we are here with an insane crowd of 10K people or something like that. And it feels really amazing to play and it puts you a bit more pressured, I would say, even though you shouldn’t have it because it’s a normal game. But yeah, it doesn’t feel like it at all. And I think it’s way more fun to play here.
I think we had so much fun. Even though it’s also harder to play in front of a crowd, I liked the experience a lot.
Credit: Riot Games
Do you think the arena experience will be helpful for future MSI and Worlds appearances?
Oscarinin: Yeah. I think we probably take lessons from today for the next final or international events. I think we’re going to probably be better at listening to each other, at managing nerves in general — pressure. I think it’s going to help a lot.
Lee Jones: Do you think that played a part in the MKOI loss too?
What is your reaction to the end of game three versus MKOI?
Oscarinin: We were really excited because we really thought we were gunna end. But yeah, it was kinda painful to lose, obviously. In the end, we talked after and we said it’s not that big of a deal; in the end it’s just a normal split game.
But yeah, it’s hard to feel like that when you are on a big stage with all this crowd. You have to take some hours after to actually realise that it’s not so important. And yeah, it sucks to lose, obviously, but it is what it is.
Lee Jones: Lets’ talk about Fnatic’s current trajectory.
You weren’t a million miles away from the title in Winter, what do you think is needed to make that final step?
Oscarinin: When I think of this split, we stepped up in scims at least, or how we want to approach learning the game and playing as a team, I think for sure we are improving and we are on the right track. But I think we can also do it way better. We can be on a better track than what we are right now. But yeah, I think slowly we will get there and I think we can for sure win the league.
Finally, what was your reaction to Barcelona’s win against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final?
I was watching it in the hotel and there was a lot of Madrid people, obviously, and I had so much fun watching the Kounde goal. In the end I think it was really exciting. It was kind of like our game against KOI, I guess, just in the last minute. So yeah, at least I enjoyed something yesterday.
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