Since the beginning of the season,
has been going through a turbulent period. Eliminated in the first round of the LEC Versus playoffs, the Black and Orange could even miss the Spring Split elimination phase. The team currently holds one win and three losses ahead of the three matches awaiting them at the
Roadtrip, held at the Arènes d’Évry-Courcouronnes.
In the lead-up to this crucial week, Patrik “cArn” Sättermon, Chief Gaming Officer of Fnatic, reflected in an exclusive interview with Sheep Esports on the state and internal dynamics of the roster. In a second part, set to be published tomorrow, cArn also offered broader insights into the team’s League of Legends project.
How did the players experience the, early elimination of the LEC Versus? What has the team done since then, and how are they experiencing the first weeks of the Spring Split?
Patrik “cArn” Sättermon: “All the management, coaches, and players were naturally very disappointed with how LEC Versus ended, especially given that we felt we had built a decent baseline during the preseason and in the opening part of the year. The last stretch of the stage clearly was not good enough from us, and things unraveled very quickly. After the exit, we took the time to review the split honestly as a group, reset, and then got straight back to work for Spring Split.
Fabian "GrabbZ" Lohmann mentioned before the season that he was satisfied with having built a team of strong personalities. How has managing the collective been? Have there been any challenges, especially in light of the results?
cArn: I think we have a very dedicated group, with players and staff who genuinely want to be here and are willing to put the work in to succeed together. One positive sign after LEC Versus was that the reaction internally was constructive—there was no finger-pointing or excuse-making, but instead a shared focus on what each person could do better going into Spring and alignment from the group on what we must work on as a team. Compared to last year, we also have a more vocal group, which I think is part of what Grabbz was referring to when he spoke about strong personalities. Results and consistency clearly need to improve after a shaky start to Spring, but what's good to see is that the response inside the team has been serious and healthy.
Was keeping the same roster for Spring an obvious choice, or did you consider making quick adjustments during the offseason?
cArn: I would not say it was an obvious decision, because after a poor split you have to ask the serious questions. But after reviewing things, we fairly quickly landed on giving this roster more time and more support through additional coaching staff rather than looking at early-year pivots. We still believe this is a young group with a lot of potential, and we felt the right call for Spring was continuity.
You mentioned a rebuilding phase for Fnatic and hinted at long-term plans. What is the current long-term roadmap for reaching the heights of 2018 again?
cArn: 2026 is clearly a rebuilding year for us. We changed most of the roster and moved towards a much more rookie-oriented group, so naturally the focus is on building something rather than forcing unrealistic comparisons too early. Of course we always aim high, but using 2018 as a near-term benchmark probably does more harm than good given how much the game, league, and overall ecosystem have changed since then. Those changes have meant being much more deliberate in where we invest over the past few years, but the most important thing now is building a stronger foundation in players, staff, and infrastructure that can put us back in a position to seriously compete over the coming years.
You explained that you were unable to expand your coaching staff for the Winter Split due to budget constraints. What has changed that allowed you to recruit Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu?
cArn: Towards the end of 2025 we received news from Riot about immediate and mid-term ecosystem changes that would impact team revenues and sustainability, so we unfortunately had to delay some hires. While not ideal, we felt we had a solid foundation at the very start of the season and plenty of continuity going into 2026 with the staff we had built around Grabbz.
Why did you decide to recruit Odoamne? What do you expect him to bring to the team, and what has he already brought?
cArn: We brought in Odo because we felt the team would benefit from someone with his credibility, experience, and perspective, coming from a player background, especially around high-pressure moments and what it takes to compete at the top for a long time. He also knows exactly what players go through on that stage, which matters a lot with a younger group. On a personal level, several of us at Fnatic have known and admired Andrei for many years, so there was already a strong level of respect there. From what I’ve seen so far, I think he can make a big impact on this team and has the potential to build a very strong coaching career should he choose to stay on this path.
Were you expecting faster and more obvious progress between Winter and Spring?
cArn: Yes, I think it is fair to say we expected a better start than we’ve had, and things look tough. With more than half of our games left, we are focused on keeping working hard and fighting for a spot in the playoffs, but we are of course up against a big task now given our start and how the rest of the table has evolved over the last few weeks.
Would changes be possible if Spring also turned out to be below expectations?
cArn: Yes, of course. At Fnatic we always review each split seriously, and if performance is below expectation, then all options have to be considered. That is not unique to this roster or title—it is just part of how we operate across all teams after each competition.
We’re still far from that point, but what would it mean for Fnatic if they failed to qualify for Worlds, should that happen?
cArn: Our full focus right now is still always on the next game, but of course failing to qualify for Worlds would be very disappointing for Fnatic, as that’s always going to be seen as the bare minimum achievement each year. We are proud of the consistency Fnatic has shown in reaching Worlds and in repeatedly creating platforms for players and coaches to compete on the game’s biggest stage. At the same time, for an organization like ours, qualifying alone can never be the end goal—it has to be the baseline, with the real ambition being to go there and perform. If the worst were to happen, the main priority would be using the extra time well—reviewing everything in an open and honest manner, making the necessary structural or roster decisions, and ensuring we return in a much stronger place for 2027.
What are the positive signs you would highlight to reassure the fans about the LEC team?
cArn: We know there is a lot of negativity around the team right now, and ultimately consistent positive results are the only thing that is going to rebuild the fans' trust and belief. That is simply the reality of professional esports. But one thing I would say is that, internally, the situation is healthier than people from the outside might assume. The group is holding up well, working hard, and functioning together in a serious way in Berlin. We have a lot to prove still, but the idea that the team is mentally collapsing is not something I recognize from what I see day to day.”
