TL UmTi: “I’m a player that actually prefers to have a sub player — sometimes watching and competing [for the spot] is actually very good”

Q: What did you think about criticism of TL’s play yesterday and your improvement today?

UmTi: Well, I actually didn’t know everyone was flaming yesterday’s game, but I know that everyone’s been flaming my game if I didn’t play perfectly. So […] I don’t mind because I didn’t see any any comments about that. I didn’t really open it.

I think we actually played some sequences very well yesterday. We knew what was the problem, and we actually were working to fix it. You know, we can actually pick the same picks that we have been, and then we can do the same things [we did] last year to be undefeated — but then we aren’t gonna be improved. We have to know and we have to learn. We are learning, from the international [games], what we have to aim for to improve.

If you’re undefeated with one comp or three sequences that you do, it’s actually not enough. So, our team is just figuring that out. We wanna be more flexible. […] There are a lot of things going on in our team, and [we can get] overwhelmed — sometimes we’re gonna be overwhelmed and there are growing pains. I think we’re in that stage right now.

And, you know, in Spring we were in that stage too, because we had a lot of practice time in Spring. And now we’ve had a lot of practice time from playoffs, First Stand, 3 weeks of no break all night block [scrims]. We were actually very inspired by First Stand, and wanted to improve our weaknesses.

I think that’s why everyone’s thinking “Oh, Team Liquid is actually kind of shit. I actually expect them to win every game.” — but we wanna improve, not just win every game. You cannot [find] any great team in the world that won every single game for two, three, four years.

I think it’s easy to say [that] as a player, but I know that fans are going to be frustrated at the games. But, yeah. I just wanna say “Trust us, and we’re gonna just improve.”

Q: Spawn mentioned that he’s been subbing players in and out of scrims, especially in jungle, to help everyone re-evaluate the game. How has that been for you?

UmTi: So when I was playing and watching our games, [sometimes] there’s some micro thing wrong, and I’m a player. I don’t think coaching staff can say “Oh, your laning phase is so shit. You’re [messing up] very individual things, very small, tiny things. You get solo-killed too much.” These are not team things. They cannot review it.

But as a player, I can watch and find some matchups, and show them “Hey, I think this shouldn’t be like this. Impact, look at this, I don’t think this is going like this. Hey, APA, I don’t think this should go like this.”

I think that was a very helpful time. And I’m a player that actually prefers to have a sub player — sometimes watching and competing [for the spot] is actually very good. I’ve had a lot of sub [junglers] in my life. On Jin Air Greenwings, KT Rolster, and then again Jin Air and then Brion. I actually enjoy having a sub and competing [for the spot].

Plus, if he’s actually a good rookie, I actually try to grow him a lot, and help him grow. Because even if he takes the spot, you know, it is what it is. I fall down, and maybe he’s better, then I can actually learn from him more.

Q: Once you’re an experienced veteran player, working with a rookie can help you improve too?

UmTi: When I’m the veteran and he’s the rookie, I’m gonna teach him [with] confidence. When he gets actually good and he improves, I’m gonna be very satisfied, and I’m gonna try to teach him more and try to find the every [point of] game data, then I’m gonna [get] better. I’m working harder, more motivated.

Q: Where would you rate TL in the league?

UmTi: I think we were actually, like fourth or fifth when we came back to NA and tried to start scrims again. We were […] dizzy for one week and losing a lot of scrims. Then we were finding the right track, and the coaching staff and all the players were working hard. So I was thinking “Oh, right now, our performance should be 3rd or 4th to start.” And then I can see that we’re gonna improve a lot.

Q: How strong do you think LYON, your opponent next week, is?

UmTi: So I think LYON are a kinda heavy team, like […] they are [micro-focused]. I would say their main play is Dragon. They’re not gonna play for side, to be honest. And I don’t think they can, right now, because their carries are strong, and their jungle support movements are good in team fights. And then Licorice is a player [who is better at] grouping to team fight than on side.

So I think their strength is Dragon, but their weakness is Dragon too.

Q: Would you agree that teamfighting is TL’s weakness?

UmTi: Well, I think I would agree on some days because some days we were [bad at teamfighting]. And then I think we proved that we improved the team fights today. You guys can see — we were very behind, and then we came back.

You can see that in yesterday’s game too. We were actually losing a lot, and we actually win the teamfight and get the Baron or something. Our team fighting decisions are much better, I think.

But we still think our teamfighting isn’t [satisfactory] to win at internationals. So I think we are still improving, but I’m happy.

Q: You faced Quid today, and I’ve heard him and APA text eachother and talk a lot. Are you jealous? I know you and APA have a great bromance.

UmTi (visibly confused): What? What the hell? I know what bromance is, but you think me and APA have it?

Q: Not romance, bromance. It’s like when you’re good friends.

UmTi: Oh, okay. I don’t mind, he can [talk to Quid].