Despite a promising start to the split, SK Gaming failed to secure a spot in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), playoffs, falling to Team Vitality during the Évry-Courcouronnes Roadtrip. Following the loss, jungler Mehdi "Boukada" Lahlou spoke with Sheep Esports to reflect on the end of SK’s run, assess his career so far, and share his thoughts on what lies ahead.

You’ve just been eliminated from playoff contention and finished at the bottom of the standings. This was your first split in the LEC — a major milestone in your career. How are you feeling?

Mehdi "Boukada" Lahlou: "We’re obviously really disappointed. We had a great start — especially beating Fnatic in the first week of the season. We were playing well, there was real positive momentum. But as the weeks went on, we didn’t improve — if anything, things just got worse. So yeah, I’m definitely disappointed, because with the start we had, I really expected us to do a lot better than this. I’m gutted, honestly.

What do you think was missing for you to maintain that early momentum?

Boukada: Honestly, I can't pinpoint exactly where it came from, but I think one of the biggest problems was that we never really managed to get on the same page. Even on the same patch, we’d often have different views on how to play the game, and if you can’t agree on a playstyle, it just doesn’t work. Whether it was during draft or in-game, we had a lot of disagreements. In draft, for example, one person would suggest something and another would want the complete opposite. And once we were in game, it was the same thing — calls were going in all sorts of different directions. We couldn’t align our ideas or play as a single unit with a shared vision.

That kind of disconnect around the game seems to have already been an issue within the team, as Steven "RKR" Chen told us during the Winter Split. In your opinion, is that something a team can actually fix, or are there just times when some players are fundamentally incompatible?

Boukada: I don’t think it’s easy, but it’s definitely something that can be fixed. It takes a lot of effort from everyone — talking things through, reviewing games together, agreeing on how you want to play. It’s doable, but it’s far from simple. We’ll see what needs to change for the next split.

You left Karmine Corp Blue earlier this year to join SK — a move you described at the time as a tough decision. Looking back now, do you still feel it was the right choice?

Boukada: Yeah, I think it was still the right decision. In this scene, you never know what the future holds — I might not get another shot at the LEC, so I had to take the opportunity. Of course, the Spring Split didn’t go well. But if we can learn from this failure and bounce back in Summer, perform the way we know we can, then it’ll make for a good story. In any case, I don’t want to go through another split like that one. That’s just not acceptable.

Do you feel like you learned and grew during this split, despite the results? People often say one split in the LEC teaches you more than a whole year in the ERLs — would you agree with that?

Boukada: Definitely — I’ve learned a lot. I really enjoy working with our coach, he brings me so much both individually and on a team level. And playing every week against such strong teams, that’s going to make you improve no matter what. So despite the disappointment, there’s still some positives: I feel like I’ve become a better player.

Looking back, is there anything you regret about this split?

Boukada: Honestly, no. I think I did what I had to do — I always gave it my all and never gave up. So from an individual standpoint, I have no regrets. Of course, I wish the team had performed better, but that’s not something I can fully control.

How was the experience of playing your matches in Évry? The atmosphere must have been a bit strange, considering SK Gaming had the fewest fans in the crowd.

Boukada: It didn’t feel strange or anything — I’ve already played that kind of role in my career before, so it wasn’t new to me. But I was actually pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere. I wasn’t expecting it to be that loud, or for the crowd to be that engaged. The fans were really into it, and honestly, it was super cool to be a part of.

Did you find it stressful to play on stage, with the crowd and everything that comes with it?

Boukada: No, not at all. Personally, I love these kinds of events. For me, it’s not stressful — quite the opposite, actually.

Where do you see yourself in a year?

Boukada: Ideally, on a top LEC team competing for Worlds — because that’s the goal, just like it is for every pro player. So if everything goes well, I see myself on a team at the top of the table in the LEC.

Any final words?

Boukada: As always, a huge thank you to everyone who supports us — whether it’s with photos, cheers, or messages. It really gives us a lot of strength, and I hope we can do better in the Summer Split."