stand undefeated in the 2026 LEC Spring Season. Nevertheless, a new challenge arises before them, as the Blue Wall is only a few hours away from its debut in the league’s
last roadtrip of the split in Madrid. Fighting in hostile territory, the French organization will have to take on three other playoff participants in
,
, and reigning champions
, in hopes of proving that they are the uncontested best in Europe ahead of the tournament’s next stage.
In an exclusive interview,
Sheep Esports sat down with the team’s toplaner
to discuss his experience on home ground in France, the differences between Korean and European culture, what he is currently improving on, and the weight of expectations.
How was your experience at the Évry-Courcouronnes roadtrip, and what moments stood out the most?
Kim "Canna" Chang-dong: “I have fond memories of last year’s roadtrip in France, but this time it was even better since we managed to win all our matches. I would say my best memory from this event will be when I danced and sang with our fans.
How do these events feel compared to others you’ve attended while in Korea?
Canna: I’ve participated in many events and encounters with fans throughout my career. If I had to compare events in France to the ones I’ve been to while in Korea, I would say that they are both similar in their structure, but the real difference is in how fans support us. Fans here in France—even if they come from across Europe—the way they dance, sing, and shout for our team is completely different from what we experience in Korea.
Comparing the two cultures, they are completely different. In Korea, we don’t stand up like here—there are no drums. In China and in Korea, fans treat players somewhat like K-Pop idols, while here in Europe, they treat us more like friends.
With KC focusing more on enabling you this year, how do you feel about the evolution of your role, your freedom in-game, and your overall progression?
Canna: At the start, there were some worries about my communication with
. We’ve had a lot of thorough discussions with our coaches, management, and the rest of the roster to figure out how we could improve together. Because of this, I’ve worked a lot with Yike on improving that particular aspect—and I’ve improved a lot, even if I still feel a constant evolution even today. In addition to this,
, who joined us this year, brings a lot of positivity into the team. He is a good influence for us all and helps nurture a good atmosphere in the team.
How do you deal with the pressure of expectations, being in the spotlight, and constantly being on camera?
Canna: It’s true that there is a lot of pressure linked to being in front of a camera, especially when we are playing important matches. Still, this is normal—it’s part of the job. There’s a certain pressure when I step onto the stage, but what helps the most is just to look around and see all of our fans. When I see them, I just tell myself that I don’t want to disappoint them, and all my pressure dissipates thanks to them.
Do you have a preference between Korean and European esports culture, especially regarding pressure and expectations?
Canna: Currently, I prefer European culture in the LEC. It’s just more comfortable to be in. It’s been a while since I last played in the LCK, so I don’t fully remember how it was back then, but from memory, the pressure was a little tough back then. So overall, I prefer European culture because it feels more comfortable.
What do you think is the biggest misconception fans have about pro players, especially Korean players?
Canna: Fans always have a lot of expectations for Korean and Chinese players—they tell themselves that we play better than the rest of the world. It creates a certain pressure on us to perform. Sometimes, because of those expectations, fans end up disappointed or don’t fully understand some plays, as they think that Koreans should always be playing well.
These days, there are more and more high-level Korean players being imported, trying to rise to that challenge. Personally, I think that due to my longevity as a veteran, I’ve managed to put those expectations aside.
Caliste recently alluded to “year two” goals for this roster in 2027, particularly talking about international events. Looking at that context, and knowing the ultimate ambition is always to win Worlds, how realistic do you think it is for a European team to eventually get back to lifting the trophy again?
Canna: We have a few matches left in the LEC—we’re currently at 6-0—but obviously, our objective continues to be to earn as many wins as possible. Winning Worlds is a distant concept and, in order to get closer to it, we need to do our best in the present. I think it’s very realistic today to say that we can qualify for Worlds and, even if I would love to say we could win Worlds someday, I need to be realistic. I think we have the potential to reach quarterfinals.
Before your military service after 2027, and considering you’ve said you’re unsure about continuing your career afterward, do you have any specific goals or “bucket list” achievements you want to reach?
Canna: In general, I just really love Europe—I’m really comfortable here. As I said before, I’ll have to do my military service [after 2027] and honestly, I don’t know if I’ll be able to continue my career after I am done with it. Right now, I just want to concentrate everything I have into Karmine Corp.
If you make MSI and return to Korea for the first time since First Stand last year, would that have a special meaning for you?
Canna: It would be a good opportunity for me to see Korean fans again and be able to shine in front of them. It would feel like a breath of fresh air for me, and I’d be very happy to have the chance to go.
Do you think LCK teams still think about you today?
Canna: [Laughs] I feel a little shy speaking for them, but in my opinion, they probably must think that at this level, I should be able to return to the LCK if I wished. Still, this is just what I believe they’d be thinking.
Ahead of heading to Madrid next week and the big matches there, do you have any particular thoughts or expectations?
Canna: The last time I was in Madrid, I couldn’t show a good form. My objective this time around is to show the best version of myself. The roadtrip in Évry-Courcouronnes allowed me to feel and experience the support and passion of our fans again, but I am fully expecting to be booed in Madrid, so I’ve been preparing myself mentally.
When you get booed as a professional player, it motivates you to slay your enemies even more, so that’s why I’m preparing mentally. I’ve been training a lot so that I can show the best performance possible [in Madrid].
If you could only play one champion for the rest of your career, which one would it be?
Canna: Jayce.”
Editorial Note: Special thanks to K2Kimchi for providing Korean translation assistance for this interview.