NRG Satthew about Worlds: “We need to come in with the hunger of a play-in team.”

NRG, the reigning Rocket League world champions, are out of the Esports World Cup this Friday after falling 4-1 to Twisted Minds in the Lower Bracket Semifinals of the group stage, a true disappointment for the North American No. 1 seed.

Following the defeat to TWIS, long-standing coach Matthew "Satthew" Ackermann joined us for an interview to discuss his team’s loss. He also looked back on what went wrong at the Paris Major, how the team is approaching the World Championship at the end of the year, and why he chose Jason “Firstkiller” Corral to represent the United States at the Esports Nations Cup.

Matthew "Satthew" Ackermann: “Obviously, our team is a bit disappointed. We have high standards for ourselves, we have high expectations, and those weren't met this tournament. To be honest, it's natural for us to feel a bit of sadness. But there was also some stuff in this tournament that was out of our control, and I commend the guys for fighting through it. I'm still proud, obviously.

Satthew: We had the same placement as Paris’ Major, but there's a lot more to work with going into Worlds. Paris looked a lot more dire. We lost in worse fashion to teams that we shouldn't be losing to in that type of fashion.

Twisted Minds is a good team stylistically, and they also counter us. So we need to fix our mistakes against teams that are built and structured like that, as well as raise our general floor and level. We actually have quite a bit to take away, and we found something decent on stage after TSM.

Satthew: We had to be a little honest with ourselves because we're a team with such high standards. We did so well for so long, for two years. This year, at least domestically, was solid. Internationally, we were struggling a bit more, especially after Boston’s Major.

It was about rallying them and showing them that, stylistically, we're still okay. It needs work, it needs to be tweaked, but we're still in a decent spot. More than anything, we need to calm down. We were just way too hectic on stage. That was our first match since the disaster in Paris, so maybe nerves got to us a bit and we were making very random and unexpected mistakes.

Satthew: There's nothing specific to FURIA. It was more just on our side. Getting back to how we play again, stylistically, we were just so off against TSM that it was similar to Paris in a way, probably worse.

It was worse than what it was in Paris, but we got to a level here that we never hit in Paris against FURIA. And I truly believe, no disrespect to them, that is how that series should go by our standards.

Satthew: We just had the talk. A lot of it is reminding them that they have the ability to be the best team in the world. We still have a very high seed, so we're blessed with that. But we also need to not allow it to become a curse. We'll be projected to play a slightly weaker team in the first round based on our seed, but we need to come in with the hunger of a play-in team.

It was better this tournament than it was in Paris. Obviously, we had a lot of controversy around our preparation for Paris. We came in with better hunger this time. We need more. We also need to figure out these issues against teams like Twisted Minds and Team Vitality, and from there, just make sure our general level is better.

Satthew: There's pressure just because it's in NA. This will be Atomic (Massimo Franceschi) and my third time at Dickies Arena. Third time's the charm, as they say, and hopefully that comes to fruition. And then obviously Daniel (Daniel Piecenski) and BeastMode (Landon Konerman), it'll be their second time. Well, their third time, but second time with expectation to maybe make the finals.

With how the season's gone, our expectations are low. We aren't a Karmine Corp or Vitality-type of team that people expect to win. People will still have us on their radar because they know what we can do and what we did in the past, but I don't think the pressure is too crazy. Maybe until we get to a semifinal. That's where it'll hit.

Satthew: As a unit, we found ways to communicate without it ever getting on each other's nerves too much. It's hard to team for three years, especially with young adults and even teenagers. Teenagers love to get under each other's skin. But we did a good job of trying to avoid that and keeping our relationships going very well.

It also helps that we had such a ridiculous first year in terms of placements. Our second year was still very good, and then obviously we won a World Championship. I just have good-natured players on my team that want the best.

We also came from very humble beginnings, with BeastMode and Daniel both missing out on Worlds the year before our team started, and Atomic and I not doing great at Düsseldorf. So we were all kind of grounded, and we rode that groundedness for the last three years.

Satthew: Honestly, this season it has been very tough as a coach. Typically, the gaps weren't big enough between the Majors for that to be too much of an issue. Obviously, with the format this year, the gap between the second Major and Worlds is huge. So, I can't say I've done a great job, based on the results.

It's about trying to look at gameplay from the most recent Major, trying to stay as fresh as possible by talking to other coaches. But it's also hard in NA because we're just a bit weaker as a region. So it's hard.

Satthew: There's a two-out-of-three roster rule, so even then that doesn't fully answer the question. First, I have experience with Atomic and Daniel and then adding a new third at EWC two years ago with nass (Nassim Bali). So I know how they operate when filling in a new player. That's already a familiar feeling to me.

BeastMode sometimes likes to protect his time. He doesn't need to go to every place, and this was an opportunity where, again, it was a two-out-of-three roster thing. He likes to spend time with family, and I fully support him with that, especially when stuff like this happens during the tournament. Atomic and Daniel were ready to go, so it made sense to take them.

Satthew: He's always been a standout player in the US, and there's a lot of respect for him internationally. M0nkey M00n (Evan Rogez) said in the past that he wants to team with him. He has some great results under his belt, beating Karmine Corp at different events. He's made a Major final last year. He's just a very decorated player.

He's still one of my favorite archetypes of players in the sense that he's an older player who's been around for a long time, but he still keeps up with the game. So you get the old-gen mindset while still having the ability to compete with the new generation. I think he's just a great player.

Satthew: Extremely confident. We have a lot to work with off this event, and Dallas is going to be a nice, familiar place for us. My team also loves staying in NA to play. We've travelled a lot this year and we have more ahead of us, so it's nice to sit back sometimes and not have to go too far for Dallas.

I'm very excited. I've actually never been more confident in my ability to coach. Despite the results, I have a clear path of what Worlds is going to look like. So I know if I lead the boys correctly, they'll deliver.”