Following their loss to
Fnatic,
Karmine Corp Blue closed out another winless week at 0–3 and are now officially eliminated from
LEC Versus's playoff contention. The reigning
EMEA Masters Summer 2025 champions, who underwent significant roster changes compared to last year with the addition of many young players, were unable to replicate in the LEC the success they had achieved in ERLs.
Despite this outcome, the team remains optimistic and intends to build on the experience gained over the course of the season as they return to the LFL for the remainder of the year. After the defeat against Fnatic, Ianis "Blidzy" Paul spoke with Sheep Esports about his team’s journey and what lies ahead.
What are your first impressions after this game and this week of competition?
Ianis "Blidzy" Paul: "The main takeaway is that, across all the games we played, our objective setups were not optimal. We lost a lot around objectives and in the way we approached them. I think that was our biggest weakness this week. There has been improvement from week to week, though. Against KOI and SK Gaming, we struggled when we fell behind to cut our losses and come back into games. This week, I felt our early games were generally solid, except around objectives and later in the game, where we struggled significantly. So I think that is simply an area we need to keep working on for the rest of the year.
We know that in a team of young players, accumulating losses can affect confidence and morale. How do you manage to keep working with the same energy in these conditions?
Blidzy: When you lose that much, it is difficult to stay aligned and maintain a strong mindset, but I think we are handling it well because we communicate constantly, both among the players and with the staff. We have many honest discussions where we talk openly about our problems and try to fix them as quickly as possible, even though it is not easy. Losing this often is tough for players, because their expectations are always extremely high, whether they are a rookie or not. It is difficult, but in the end, it comes down to work. You simply have to keep working to improve in the areas where improvement is needed.
You mentioned objective contests earlier. What do you see as the key areas your team needs to improve right now?
Blidzy: At the moment, it is our understanding of teamfights. I think our fight knowledge is not strong enough compared to the teams we have faced. There is also the way we retake objectives and hold positions in general. Those are the two main issues. Of course, there are other problems — we are far from perfect — but in most of the games we have played, those factors are what cost us the win.
What do you think about your players’ long-term development over the course of the split? How do you assess their progress compared to the beginning?
Blidzy: The team as a whole is putting in a lot of work to improve. I genuinely feel that everyone is making an effort to learn as much as possible, and I am quite happy with that. Obviously, it has not been enough given the results, but it is not that simple. I am also satisfied because, whether we win or lose, I think we show good things. I am not happy about losing, of course, but in most of the games we played — aside from those against KOI and SK — I think we showed genuinely promising things for a team like ours. It has not paid off yet, but you can feel that we are improving in certain areas of the game, and that is the most important part.
Among your players, many fans have been surprised by Olivier "Prime" Payet’s level, as he seems to play very freely and comfortably. How do you explain how at ease he looks — is it his experience playing a role in that?
Blidzy: I think he has always been like that. He has always been a very strong player. Of course, with all the attention on KC, that naturally helps, but he is a very good player, and that is one of the reasons we recruited him. I think he plays very relaxed, and I also believe that, for him and for all the players, this is a great opportunity to compete in the LEC. He is giving everything he has to become the best version of himself, and I am very happy with what he is showing so far.
When we spoke with Kamil "Kamiloo" Haudegond two weeks ago, he said he was trying to act as a mentor for young players. How do you see him in that role as a mentor, leader, and source of support for his teammates?
Blidzy: He has been very supportive of his teammates. I think he contributes a lot, especially during reviews. It is important both that he helps others and that he continues to work on himself and on the areas he needs to improve. I am happy with Kamil. I know what he is capable of, and I think he can do much more — and I know that he will.
With this loss, you are now officially eliminated from playoff contention. Are you and the players disappointed not to be able to continue or to re-enter the competition in the LFL or EMEA Masters?
Blidzy: We are not really disappointed about EMEA Masters or the LFL. That was never in our minds. But we are obviously very disappointed not to play in the playoffs. Even though it is very difficult, everyone is disappointed about it. Now we need to refocus on what we have worked on, what we have learned from this split, and what we still need to improve. We have one week left, and we will see what we can deepen in terms of work and what we can show next week.
Have you followed the first matches of the LFL Invitational, and if so, how would you position your team compared to the league’s competitors?
Blidzy: I mainly watched French Flair. In my opinion, French Flair stand above the rest, along with Galions, who are the two strongest teams in terms of level in the LFL. I would place French Flair slightly ahead. It is difficult to position ourselves precisely. My view is that, based on what we are showing in the LEC and if we continue to put in the same amount of work, I think we can win the LFL. But it is not that simple and we know that. You do not win just like that, and winning is difficult. Only one team wins in the end. Still, I am very confident that if we maintain this level of effort, we will win the LFL.
Even though you are learning a lot, this remains a difficult split in terms of results. Given what you are going through this split, what will help you improve for the rest of the LFL season?
Blidzy: Right now, the level of play is much higher than in the LFL. There is a significant gap, so we are punished much more harshly for certain things. As a result, we gain a much clearer understanding of what we can and cannot get away with. The biggest difference is that you are not punished nearly as much in the LFL as you are in the LEC. That shows us where our limits are, and it also helps us better identify when opponents make mistakes and how to punish them. Of course, losing this much is hard, even in our situation as a rookie guest team, it is still difficult. The most important thing is to maintain our mindset and focus on what we are learning and what we still need to learn.
On a more personal note, this is your first split as head coach, under fairly unusual circumstances. Are you satisfied with the way you have been working so far with Fara and the team?
Blidzy: I am satisfied. I do not think becoming head coach has changed much about the way I work. I am simply more open and carry more responsibility from the team’s perspective. I see that as a positive thing for me personally. I really enjoy the role, and I think that when I became Head Coach, I was ready for it, and that is something important. So overall, I am quite happy."
