Blessed with back-to-back wins, the
Heretics are preaching a new dogma in the
2026 League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) Versus as the team continues to climb the ranks. With only two matches remaining, the squad will need to push on to achieve salvation and secure a playoff berth. In an exclusive interview, support
Paul "Stend" Lardin sat down with
Sheep Esports to discuss the team’s struggles, the pressure to succeed, and the challenges ahead.
How do you feel after this 2–1 week and an important win against MKOI, especially after a tough start to the season?
Paul "Stend" Lardin: "I’m feeling really good. I’m genuinely very happy with this win against MKOI. Even though, for example, our win against KCB wasn’t played that well, we still managed to take victories against teams like GIANTX, Vitality, and MKOI, which are all strong teams.
This win does wonder for our morale. Internally, it hasn’t been easy, because we were very close to being out of playoff contention. Beating MKOI gives us a real confidence boost, and it changes a lot for what’s coming next.
After the match, you mentioned a ‘do or die’ mentality. How did that play out within the team, and how has the mindset evolved after some difficult days?
Stend: If we lost just one more match, we were almost certainly out of playoffs, unless we got a miracle scenario. So yes, there was definitely that ‘do or die’ mentality.
On my side, individually, I put myself in a very clear state of mind: we had a week and a half left, and I was going to give everything. I worked a ton, played a lot of solo queue, reviewed matches. I told myself that if I had to push myself to burnout in a week, then so be it—I’d do it.
In the end, I’m quite happy with the work we’ve done as a team. I think we showed a much better side of ourselves than in previous weeks. On that level, I’m really satisfied with the team as a whole.
With all the pressure around the team—especially after a difficult 2025 for Heretics—how do you handle it? Do you feel a particular weight on your shoulders?
Stend: Yes, I feel it, mainly from our fans. They’re not very happy, and last year didn’t go very well, so there’s naturally a lot of pressure. But honestly, it’s not something I focus on closely, and it doesn’t really affect me that much.
As you said, the year isn’t over, but if we get eliminated next week, we’ll have a two-month break before the second split, which is plenty of time to recover—even in case of burnout. So right now, I’m really giving my maximum. I wasn’t satisfied with my individual level at the start of LEC Versus, so I’ve been working a lot to get back to where I need to be.
In your opinion, what does Heretics still need to work on to really improve and meet fans’ expectations?
Stend: Yeah, the fans are a bit fed up. Sheo (Théo Borile) and I were already here last year, so I understand why they have less patience now—and that’s completely normal. On our side, we’re giving everything we’ve got.
Looking at what we need to improve, I think our biggest issue has long been mid-game macro. That’s been a phase we’ve struggled with a lot, and we’ve spent a lot of time trying to fix it. That’s clearly an area we’ll continue to work on.
When you know what you’re doing on the map, it gives you huge confidence in-game. On the other hand, if you’re lost on the map, your fights are poorly timed, your positioning is off, and everything becomes complicated. So the goal is to be much more aware of what’s happening on the map, to have faster and cleaner rotations. If we manage that, I think teamfights will naturally follow. Individually, we all have the level to make it click.
Do you think this pressure also affects the younger members of the team?
Stend: Honestly, I don’t think it affects them that much. Objectively, the pressure mostly falls on Sheo and me. It’s mainly us two who feel it the most. Maybe it impacts the others a bit, but personally, I haven’t really felt or noticed it within the team.
How is your synergy with Yoon "Ice" Sang-hoon? He’s been looking very strong recently, and communication is naturally different with a Korean player. How was the adaptation?
Stend: His English is really good. He’s already been in Europe for three years. That said, yes, it’s always a bit tricky at first. When you’re forming a new botlane, there’s a lot of chemistry to build, and it requires tons of repetition. At first, you’re just learning about each other, understanding each other’s vision of the game.
We clearly went through an adaptation phase, but in the last few days, it’s been much better. When we’re connected and on the same wavelength, it shows immediately in-game. When Ice is on champions like Aphelios or Yunara, and he’s having a good game, he can really carry and dominate. Personally, I’m very happy with what he’s showing.
With all the changes in the coaching staff this year—Jonas "Hidon" Vraa, Emre "Arkhe" Akpınarlı, and Alfonso "Mithy" Aguirre Rodríguez returning to Europe—how does the work between them get organized, and how do you feel about their vision?
Stend: Personally, I’m very happy with our coaching staff. Arkhe and Hidon form a duo that works really well together. Arkhe has more responsibilities over drafts, while Hidon is the head coach and focuses more on the team as a whole. I think Hidon does a great job creating a good environment for the team. He puts a lot of emphasis on our long-term progression, and you can feel it.
Mithy’s arrival has also been very positive. Even though he works remotely, he helps me a lot individually. We do a lot of reviews together, both official matches and scrims. Since he was a support, he brings me a lot in terms of game reading and macro. There are definitely plays I make today in the LEC that come from working with him.
For example, today against MKOI, when I caught their Aphelios mid, I knew he had neither flash nor ghost, and I had only one thing in mind: kill him before the soul. Decisions like that are exactly the kind of things Mithy helped me develop. Overall, I feel very aligned with the coaching staff’s vision, and I’m really satisfied with their work.
You said last year that your goal was to become one of the best supports in the LEC. Where do you see your individual level compared to last year, and how close do you feel to your goals?
Stend: After the Summer Split and during the offseason, I really dropped in level. The return to the LEC was a bit tough, and it took me time to get back into it. So at the beginning of the split, I wasn’t satisfied with my play at all. Since then, I’ve worked a ton individually. I played a lot of solo queue, invested a lot of time, and today I feel much more confident. In that sense, I think I’m definitely on the right path.
My goal remains the same: I want to become the best support in the LEC. Beyond that, if there’s ever a Nations Cup, it would really be a dream to participate. This year is very important to me because I want to prove that I’m a solid, established LEC player.
Do you consider yourself the best French support today, and which other players would you put in that spot?
Stend: Yes, I think I’m currently the best French support. Behind me, I’d put Zoelys (Théo Le Scornec) and Prime (Olivier Pierre Julien Payet). That said, I take nothing for granted. I keep giving everything and working as hard as possible to maintain the highest level.
Next week, you face Fnatic and Karmine Corp. How are you approaching these matches, and what can fans expect from you?
Stend: I don’t think Fnatic is unbeatable. They’re not very consistent right now; I see them a bit like MKOI—they’re big teams, but not at their prime. You can tell that some things aren’t working perfectly. Personally, I feel confident against Fnatic.
Karmine Corp, on the other hand, will be the real challenge. They’re very strong right now. For me, that’s clearly the biggest test of next week.
In your opinion, what will set you apart this year, and why should people follow the team?
Stend: We’re going to be very underestimated, and we’ll surprise a lot of people. We have Tracyn (Sebastian Wojtoń), who’s a major top-lane prospect in Europe, and I think he can really make a difference. Since we’re often seen as the underdog, it creates surprises in the league, and that’s exactly what makes Heretics interesting to follow this year."
