04.08.25 - 14:0004.08.2025 - 14:00·5m5 minutos de lectura·
Por Mehdi "Ztitsh" Boukneter
FNC Milan: "For us as a team, playing a series like this against NAVI serves as a valuable reminder"
The Fnatic head coach reflects on the hard-fought victory over NAVI, the evolving identity of the team, and the lessons learned from international competition.
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FNC Milan
"Austin, as a veteran, brings experience and a stabilizing presence. Kajaak, on the other hand, is a rookie, navigating his first year at this top level"
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Following Fnatic’s narrow yet pivotal victory over NAVI on VALORANTVCT EMEA Stage 2, head coach Milan "Milan" de Meij discussed the team’s performance, their tactical adjustments during the series, and their ongoing efforts to develop a resilient, unified squad. Milan provides an insight into the systems, culture, and emotional development that have contributed to Fnatic’s recent successes, including their strong performances at international events and the integration of new talent such as Austin "Crashies" Roberts and Kajetan "Kaajak" Haremski.
How satisfied are you with the team’s performance today, and what does this victory mean for you and the squad moving forward?
Milan "Milan" de Meij: "I’d say I’m pleased we did win, after all. And I don’t think you can ever take a victory for granted, regardless of the opponent. For us as a team, playing a series like this serves as a valuable reminder: you can make mistakes and come close to losing against a team that many might not expect to challenge you. So overall, I have no real complaints. It’s a bit of a mixed feeling, of course, we weren’t at our best, and we made errors I don’t think we usually would. That’s slightly frustrating, but it’s far from catastrophic.
There were moments in the match where NAVI gained some momentum on Bind. What kind of mid-game adjustments or tactical timeouts did the coaching staff use to help turn things around and push the map into overtime and ultimately secure the win?
Milan: I can’t go into specifics about what was said, but generally, when you're on the back foot like that, the priority is to instil confidence and bring some composure back to the team. It's about settling the players down and giving them a clear sense of direction. When a series begins to spiral, it’s easy for players to lose focus or become disoriented. So we use those timeouts to realign everyone, provide them with a concrete plan for the next couple of rounds, and then build from there. Of course, we also discuss what NAVI is doing successfully at that point, but the main goal is to stabilize and regain momentum, especially when the opposing team has such a strong surge.
How did you prepare the team for this matchup against Natus Vincere? From a coaching perspective, what were the key points in your game plan, and were there any specific weaknesses of NAVI you aimed to exploit?
Milan: Our preparation followed our usual process. We reviewed their VODs, identified recurring patterns, analysed their tendencies, and then designed rounds we believed would be effective. There wasn’t much deviation from our standard approach. They’re not an unconventional team, they ran fairly standard compositions. That said, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect on Bind; I honestly didn’t anticipate them picking it in the first place. Still, our preparation was solid overall. As I mentioned, nothing extraordinary—just not our most polished performance. But winning despite that is meaningful and certainly encouraging.
You took on the role of Fnatic’s head coach earlier this year after serving as an assistant. How has the transition to head coach been for you personally, and what new approaches or philosophies have you implemented since stepping up to lead the team?
Milan: It’s been both exciting and chaotic. I’ve answered this before, but I genuinely feel fortunate to be surrounded by the people I work with. Fnatic placed a lot of trust in me. There were a few unexpected challenges at the start, a different assistant coach who couldn’t make it to Berlin, a last-minute change in our performance coach, but the current leadership and support staff are phenomenal. I truly can’t complain. That has made my transition a lot smoother. As for philosophy, I think the most important shift has been the team culture. We’ve created an environment where everyone feels safe to speak openly, share feedback, and express themselves without fear of judgment. That level of trust and transparency is crucial. The players are enjoying themselves, and we emphasize team bonding outside the game too, which, I believe, has been a key factor this year.
Photo by Alexandre Weber/Riot Games
Can you walk us through a typical training week for Fnatic under your leadership? How do you structure scrimmages, VOD reviews, and practice routines to keep the team in top form?
Milan: I don’t think our routine is too different from that of other teams. On practice days, we begin with a theory session in the morning, followed by scrims, and we wrap up with a VOD review. That’s the general structure. I won’t get into specific differences between our system and others, but the biggest strength for us is having well-organized, pre-planned practices. We don’t just show up and wing it, we set clear daily objectives, which helps us evaluate our progress each evening. Most teams practice a similar amount, usually around 20 to 30 scrims per week, paired with roughly two hours of theory per day. So while we may not differ dramatically from others, I believe it’s our consistency and structure that set the tone.
Fnatic introduced some new players to the roster, like Kaajak and Crashies. How have you approached integrating those new players into the team’s system and culture, and what has been the biggest challenge in getting everyone on the same page?
Milan: I think one of our greatest strengths has been fostering a culture where every individual feels accountable for the team’s success. Austin and Kaytan have both played pivotal roles in their own way. Austin(Crashies), as a veteran, brings experience and a stabilizing presence. Kaajak, on the other hand, is a rookie, navigating his first year at this top level. Despite the contrast, both contribute significantly, not just in-game but to the team atmosphere as well. Austin often provides that secondary leadership role you hope for in a veteran, while Kajetan(Kaajak) has had standout moments where he takes initiative, speaks up, and becomes an influential voice within the team. They complement each other well, and overall, the group dynamic allows everyone to mesh seamlessly.
Since you became head coach, in what area do you believe the team has improved the most?
Milan: I think we’ve become technically very solid in terms of individual skill. The roster hasn't changed much since Kickoff, but we've certainly deepened our strategic playbook. More than that, though, I believe the most significant improvement has been in team identity. It’s rare to be part of a team where everyone genuinely enjoys being around each other and is willing to go the extra mile. That’s what we have now, a group of individuals completely committed to the collective. The cultural shift has been transformative. Again, the players are largely the same, but how we operate as a unit has evolved dramatically.
The team had an impressive run at the Masters Toronto and EWC not long ago, finishing as runners-up. What lessons did you take from that international experience as a coach, and how are those lessons influencing your approach in the EMEA league now?
Milan: The international stage presents an entirely different environment. Toronto, in particular, taught me a great deal about what to expect as a head coach in such settings, how to manage logistics, expectations, and performance under less-than-ideal conditions. You’re often working from a hotel room, dealing with a range of limitations, which is far removed from our setup here. Here in EMEA, we have dedicated facilities, regular access to the studio, and a more stable routine. So, many of the organizational takeaways from Toronto aren’t directly applicable. Emotionally, however, those two finals, especially the second loss, taught us a lot as a team. The hope is that, should we reach a third grand final this year, we’ll carry those lessons forward and be far better equipped to handle the pressure and expectations."
