TH Hidon: "Maybe I should have put more pressure on them. I feel like the urgency was literally non-existent"

After a difficult start in the LEC Versus the regular season, Team Heretics managed to recover effectively, ultimately securing the fourth seed in the league. With G2 Esports standing in their path, a formidable challenge awaited the Spanish side in the opening round of playoffs. The hurdle ultimately proved too high for the team’s newly assembled roster, which lost 0-2.

Already with their backs against the wall in the lower-bracket, Team Heretics can no longer afford any margin for error against GIANTX this Saturday. Head Coach Jonas “Hidon” Vraa is well aware of the stakes and told Sheep Esports that he intends to make amends for the “unacceptable” performance his team delivered earlier in the week.

Jonas “Hidon” Vraa: “It's a very strange feeling because we were just not connected. We were just not playing the game. It felt like it was our first stage game all over again. Everyone were just playing their own game, with no planning and completely disjointed. It’s a very strange feeling.

Hidon: If you want to win, you have to beat everyone, that's just the nature of sports. I don't see it as an unlucky draw. I think G2 are not playing so well. But today, we were just not playing the game. And I think if we play up to our standards and we connect to the game, we could have beat them for sure. So I don't see it as an unlucky draw. I think we just really lost to ourselves.

Hidon: In the first game, it all comes down to the Dragon setup, which is something we have worked on a lot. They misunderstood the situation, and instead of pulling it to mid and playing through the banana bush, we pulled it to bot, and then our Anivia couldn’t connect. So we didn't understand the conditions and how we needed to play it. And then the moment we fell behind, they had a very good draft to snowball. So if they get a lead, we will feel it. There were just general small mistakes that don't make sense. And the second game, it was the same thing. I feel like we were just solo playing instead of playing as a team and connected, and how we've been playing through the regular split. I'm just very confused by our standard and our baseline, and I think there was no sense of urgency inside the team in terms of the need to win this match. We tried to set the standard, but we need to look ourselves in the mirror, and I'm the first one who has to do that to know what I could have done differently and reflect on the match.

Hidon: I don't know if it's pressure or maybe a lack of pressure. Maybe I should have put more pressure on them because as I said, I feel like the atmosphere and the urgency was literally non-existent. But I really have to reflect and think about it and understand where I could have done things differently to get the guys ready and maybe set a better narrative and understand the situation. Because I think, as I said, no one was really connected to the Rift. Everyone was just playing their own game. And we forgot everything we've learned during the weeks. Honestly, it's just a very confusing day.

Hidon: I think it's a hard transition for us because, without saying too much, we're lacking in some areas in drafts that make our life a bit difficult. Of course, if you had the perfect world and you could pick whatever you want, then you could make good drafts, but it's not like that. You're limited by certain situations. So this first split is also a transition understanding for us. We want to win, and I believe we can if we pick our shit up. Like in week two or three, when we lost one of our matches, I lost all hope. And then the next day they come back and play really well. That's competition, sometimes you just play shit. So I think transition-wise, it will take some time, but we try to reflect and understand the situation and keep going.

Hidon: It’s just the work, really. That's simple. It’s a lot of work coming in early, leaving later, putting a lot of efficient effort and putting it with intention instead of just hoping that things will go right. So just a lot of work, a lot of work ethic a lot of pressure on the guys, especially when we were in the in the shady situation. But our best-of-one, our level at the start was like extremely low. Today it looked very similar. But I have seen great things from the guys. So I'm not too worried. I think we can pick it up for sure.

Hidon: Yeah, I'm happy with both of them. Tracyn is someone who is very vocal for his role. He's very understanding of the situation, and he's very good at seeing team fights before they happen. I'm very happy with Tracyn. Serin, honestly, I wouldn't really call him a rookie. I think he has a lot of international experience; he has played for some time now. He's a strong player, so I wouldn't really call him a rookie, but he has a bit of a killer mentality. I'm very happy with both of them.

Hidon: I would say he's not someone who really swings very far left or right in terms of emotions. He's a very stable, very funny guy. But obviously, when you see yourself playing well, and you see your team playing well, that gives you confidence. But as I said, today, I feel like maybe we were overconfident, or we were lacking a sense of urgency, or we just play better under pressure when it means that we're in or out. So I'm just very confused by our overall performance, and I will do everything in my power to not repeat it.

Hidon: I have both a long-term and a short-term vision. I am trying to stabilize mostly to the long-term vision, but we want to win. And if we play like this, then it's not going to happen. We will be out in three days for sure. This is so unacceptable how we play today. But we go for it all, mostly focusing on the long-term. We want to learn from all the learnings that we need to take here for Fearless, best-of-one, everything and reflect into making something sustainable.

Hidon: I'm confident going into that match. I think they have a little bit more of an advantage when it comes to draft but I think we are better at playing the map, considering that we pick it up. Obviously, as I said, if we play like this, then that's not happening.”