After
being surprisingly the first team eliminated from the LCK Cup last February,
concluded a strong comeback, kicking off their season this Wednesday with a 2–0 win over
. In an exclusive interview with
Sheep Esports, head coach Yoon "
Homme" Sung-young reflects on the team’s progress in recent weeks. The former Top Esports and JD Gaming coach also discusses the differences between
and
, and revisits HLE’s early exit from the season-opening tournament.
At the last Media Day, Gumayusi mentioned that the team's growth rate compared to last season was about 20%. How did that improvement show in today's match?
Yoon "Homme" Sung-young: "It's relative, I think physical mistakes are expected, but what I watch for is whether teamwork mistakes come up or not. And honestly, today, compared to before, those errors have decreased a lot. I think all the players did a great job today. And also, well, as we keep playing, we'll only get better. With continued practice and all, simply put, we beat our opponent, so the result was good.
Both Gumayusi and Ruler are world-class ADCs. Having coached them both, what distinct strengths or styles do they each have? What differences do you see in how they operate?
Homme: It's a bit sensitive for me to comment on. But having worked with both, being top-tier players, they already know exactly what they need to do and how to do it. So there's honestly not much I need to tell them. I mean, there's really not a lot I can add. Their game sense, stats, and core fundamentals are all exceptional. That said, in terms of style, I think there are differences. I believe so. It's hard to say, but that difference is clearly there.
In an interview from your JD Gaming days, you said skill alone can't build a great team. Now, at Hanwha, you also have players with great skill. To reach the top of the LCK, what team factor is most important to you?
Homme: Since it was my first season, it was a learning process for me as well. Through that process, I identified what this team does well. And I felt the systems—the coaching staff and the players—are well-structured. Also,
and I both joined new, and LCK and LPL styles are very different. So no matter how skilled you are, without syncing up, issues will happen. Someone must adapt, and I focus a lot on that aspect. I put a lot of effort into it. I also believe team synergy and individual player form are the two most important things. I try to help each player improve their form, doing everything I can, and also reinforcing what Hanwha does well—I'm giving extra support to those strengths, pushing those areas even further. And in that way, I'm doing everything within my power.
In past interviews, you often took the blame for losses. Including in-game mistakes—how do you divide responsibility between coaches and players?
Homme: If we lose, it's always the coaching staff's fault. That's my view. But the players themselves know what they did wrong. They surely know where they fell short. So if they can become players who don't repeat those errors, that would be the right path, the right choice, I believe.
The name Homme means "man" in French. Was there a special reason behind choosing that name?
Answer: Well, at first, when I became a trainee, I needed to make an ID, and while talking with my friends, they said, "Oh, that ID really suits you well." A few of them said so, and several friends agreed, so that's how I got it.
As a media reaching fans globally, including Europe, we'd love a message for your fans abroad. Can you please share something?
Homme: First,
I'm truly sorry for our first season. I feel I didn't perform well enough. But now, the players have gone through that process, and everyone is working very hard. There will surely be mistakes going forward. But with time and experience gained, we'll show you even more than today. I'm confident of that. Please keep the faith and wait for us. Please keep cheering for us.”
