SLY Piero: "You guys need to check yourself, and get nervous"

On the eve of the EMEA Masters final between and , the LFL champions are determined to take their revenge against the pirates. Entering the tournament as one of the favorites after winning the first LFL title in the organization’s history, Solary suffered their first loss of the year to Galions in the upper bracket final.

After reverse sweeping Misa Esports to secure qualification for the EWC EMEA Qualifier, Solary support , the only player from last year’s roster still able to defend his title, spoke with Sheep Esports about what lies ahead for his team in the coming weeks.

Kim "Piero" Jeong-hoon: “I'm pretty happy because we got the EWC Qualifying. I'm looking forward to more than the final because we can play versus LEC teams. For sure, I will focus on the final, but right now I'm more focused on the LEC teams.

Piero: This year, we played against them a lot. We won some games, we lost some games, but we found some problems when we lost the semi-finals against them. So we did work on it. So we know how to play versus them right now. Our momentum is coming through the same as against Misa. So we are playing really well right now. And also, our relationship is really good. So I think it can be winnable for sure.

Piero: I think we were in a hurry in the mid-game. Especially the second game, we wanted to finish so early. If you chill and stay calm, and we’re not in a hurry like this, and if we can play our game properly, we can win. Also, we had a draft problem a bit, but we really did focus on this problem, and we kind of solved it, so I don't think these things are a problem anymore.

Piero: After game 1 and game 2, we knew that if we stayed calm and didn't rush, we could reverse sweep them. Because we played against them in scrim and we won 5-0, 4-0 last week. And we kind of knew that we were playing better than them. So after game 2, I talked to everyone. We were not playing well, we were too hurried, we were losing too much, and we were not calm. So I said to everyone that if we were focusing on this problem, we could beat them, and it worked.

Piero: In game 1 and game 2, we were kind of choking some fights. We missed flashes, we died for fun. And after, they said things like “XD”, something like they were laughing at us. But it was very, very bad sportsmanship. I really don't like this stuff, so I wanted to advise to stop doing this.

Piero: I think it was the way. Generally, I like them (Misa Esports) because sometimes plays different as usual in scrims, so we can practice another style. They tried a lot of flanks so we could get some good practice. I respect them, but the way they did like that for me in chat, when I saw this, I wanted to say “stop doing this, okay”. There’s nothing personal against them.

Piero: Yeah, for sure. EMEA Masters are important, but I wanted to improve myself and as a team. That's especially important for me. I think I'm playing better and better every day. I feel like maybe it's not a good attitude, but I think we are improving really, really well. So I think if we focus on our play, then we can win EMEA easily.

Piero: After we won the LFL, we went to the bar, and they said, “We waited like seven years.” I didn't know at the moment, so when I heard this, I was like “Oh we did a really great job” [Laughs]. So after we did, I was surprised, but I was still not satisfied with only the LFL. I want to give more trophies to Solary and to me. I want to win a lot, and I want to go to a bigger league like LEC and LCK as my final goal, I think.

Piero: Honestly, in scrims, we've played against LEC teams a lot because we won the LFL, and we were winning in EMEA also. They wanted to scrim with us. Against the lower tier of LEC teams, we were winning everything. Everything was like 5-0, 4-0, or sometimes 4-2 or 3-3. But we didn't lose against the lowest LEC teams. But against middle or top tier LEC teams, sometimes we lose, sometimes we get some games. But we’ll face or . I think they are like middle or top tier. So we need to really, really play well. And we still have a chance if we lose. So I wanted to see our limit, and I want to be an underdog and everyone can be surprised if we win, so I'm really motivated.

Piero: Right now, I'm not sure. I just want to focus on Galions first. And then, we can focus on the other teams. Anyway, in the EWC Qualifier, we need to be top 1 or 2 if we want to go to EWC. We need to win everything, so I don't want to focus on the teams, we need to win everything. I want to focus on improving.

Piero: Yeah, I think it's a chance to show and prove myself. Honestly, after I won EMA Masters Summer last year, I couldn’t go to LEC, even if it was like 90% done. Unfortunately, someone took my spot. KCB didn't know and they took Prime. I needed to find another team. I could have gone to a Turkish team or to France, Germany or Spain. But I think the LFL is the best league in the ERL. I trusted Solary.

Piero: I just want to say that this time will be different from the last game. So you guys need to check yourself, and get nervous.”