G2 Caps: “NA mids have definitely improved a lot […] We will still beat them at MSI.”

Q: Was that easy?

Caps: I mean, I would definitely not use the word easy. I think it was a bit of a struggle, but I think we played a lot more confident today, and a little more decisive. Sometimes a bit too decisive, especially for me *laughs* — I think I went a bit too deep a few times.

But I think overall, we made it work, and we didn’t just let them win the game.

Q: Why do you think Fnatic-G2 always looks like such an insane fiesta?

Caps: I mean, I think we definitely played a lot more aggressive today, because we’ve been trying to be more on the same page. I think today, we ended up a bit too much on the aggressive side. We could definitely turn it down a little bit.

At the same time, [against] Fnatic if you want to take a fight, they are always willing to take it; they will meet you at any fight always. I think they’ve kind of been that kind of team for many years actually. Regardless of of the roster changes, I think […] when we pick the fights, they will be there. And that’s kinda just how it felt today. Sometimes we picked some fights that we definitely shouldn’t have gone for, and they end up costing us a bit.

Especially, some of the early games were not the easiest for us, but we always managed to — well, in three of the games — we managed to to find a comeback, and some of the later later fights were in our favor instead.

Q: How much are you and Miky in eachother’s heads in a series like this?

Caps: When I’m against him, he definitely likes going mid or [wherever] I am, especially the first two games. […]

He also said in the pre-game interview, I think there were some times, like the Poppy last week where he flashed under the tower to try and kill me. I think he definitely wants to kill me, I can say that for sure.

In terms of playing against him and Fnatic, I think they’re playing very well. I think they’ve been a strong team so far this year. I think them and KCorp are the teams we’re looking out for the most. Obviously, KOI and the rest of the teams in playoffs can also show up on a good day, but I think KCorp and FNC seem to [be the ones] to look out for, and Miky is a big part of that.

We have a pretty good read on FNC, I would say, but they play very aggressive, and it can catch you off guard even if you know it’s coming.

Q: Because you’re the Western GOAT, every time you’re not 1st All-Pro, it’s a big story. Where do you evaluate your performance relative to the other best mids? How are you gonna beat them to MSI?

Caps: Well, thank you first off. I appreciate the compliment. I think there’s been a bit pretty big problem for us this year — we’ve obviously been towards the top. We finished second in Winter, and I still feel very confident going into the Spring split as well. In terms of the All-Pro, I mean, it’s regular season, right? And it’s 9 Bo3’s, so we didn’t have the best performance, and I didn’t have the best performance as well.

Obviously, I’m not happy about that, but also our real focus is on playoffs. If there’s rewards for regular season, I think it’s not what we’re aiming for. Instead, we’re aiming to to to fix a lot of the challenges we went through in Winter.

Maybe three or four weeks ago, I think we identified some very big problems, like challenges or reoccurring issues we had, and we’ve been working a lot on them. And I think it’s been getting a lot better, and I think we’re way more on the same page.

I also think Fearless draft is a big change compared to the other years. I think overall, we’ve been quite happy with a lot of our draft, but it’s been a little weird to prepare for Bo5 and how the adjustments go in the series. I think we definitely have been caught off guard a few times, which I assume every team has, because [Fearless] is very chaotic.

But even [in] Fearless, I think we’re starting to recognize some patterns, like “What are we actually looking for? What do we want to do in these games? What is out?” and that can [inform] other things.

I think we’re starting to get a pretty good read on Fearless, so I’m super excited for this playoffs. I think today, I’m happy with the win. I definitely think I went a bit too hard — I had too many roams, I think, and a bit too aggressive at times because I’m not too

I got the solo kills while doing it. I think, like in the Akali game, the aggression was a bit strong because I was very far ahead. If I just played a bit more cautious, I [would] have a very big lead. I think we can show a way better performance than we did today.

Obviously, super happy with the win and super happy that we can come back from some of these harder situations. But I think I can see [the possibility] where we just come out of the gate swinging, you know, and have a strong performance in the early game.

Q: I assume you anticipate facing KC next?

Caps: I mean, yeah. I definitely think KC is the strongest team right now. We will see who ends up winning at the end of the day — I don’t think that KCorp will always win. I definitely think that KOI has a shot, but I will definitely favor KCorp.

Q: Any shit talk (or normal message) for KC?

Caps: I mean, I’m definitely getting a bit frustrated, I think, from losing [to KC]. We lost now in France, we lost in the [Winter] finals, and even some of our scrims this week have not been the greatest against them. I’m definitely getting a bit frustrated, and I definitely want to beat Yike and Targamas especially, because they’re my old teammates.

I know them, I guess, on a deeper level, and I think they feel very happy when they beat me and G2. I want to show them that this time they can’t do it, and this is where the road is. We will look knock them down to the lower bracket again, and this time we also won’t give them a free final.

Q: Do you watch any LTA?

Caps: I’ve watched a little bit, [but] not so much as as we used to. I think we used to watch a lot together. Nowadays with the current team, we don’t watch it together, so I watch a little bit here and there, but definitely not all the games or anything like that.

Q: Do you talk to any players in NA (EU players or otherwise)? What do you think of the region right now?

Caps: Not really. I mean, I don’t really talk to any players, I think, except for my teammates.

I usually just speak mainly with my team. Obviously, I might talk a little bit with some of my older teammates, but, in general, I don’t really talk to anyone […] especially not with anyone from NA. I guess when we were at MSI, last year, I was talking a bit with APA, and we were playing 1v1s and stuff. […]

I think APA was playing like good last year, right? I haven’t played against him for a while now. [But] he was definitely playing good last year.

And I think Jojopyun, coming to Europe, I also definitely think he’s been playing very well. I think NA mids have definitely improved a lot, I would say, over the last few years. I think they’re doing good. We will still beat them at MSI.