LUA’s new competitive project has taken its first steps this year under the leadership of SLiezzan (Fernando Villar) as Head Coach. With a profile that combines grassroots talent development, analytical rigor, and years of experience working behind the scenes with professional players, SLiezzan now takes full control of a young and ambitious roster built around work ethic and long-term growth.
In this exclusive interview for Sheep Esports during the Kickoff Tournament in Madrid, he reviews the team’s first official matches in the LES (Spanish ERL1), analyzes what went wrong against GIANTX iTero, dives into the development of promising rookies like Pegaso (Edison Rivera) and TIMR (Tomáš Buštík), and explains his own journey from amateur coach and content creator to leading a project that aims to establish LUA as a long-term reference in Spanish League of Legends.
You only had one week of preparation. How do you evaluate the team’s performance despite the losses?
SLiezzan (Fernando Villar): “Considering we only had one week to prepare and barely six scrims with the finalized roster, our starting point was complicated. Pegaso, for example, had never played in ERL1. On top of that, we debuted against a former LEC player (Flakked - Victor Lirola). Even so, in that week we improved massively, and overall we pushed ourselves incredibly hard.
When we defined our goals, we were realistic: we wanted to compete with the teams we considered fourth and fifth. After this first experience, I think we proved that, although we were worse than GIANTX iTero — especially in the first game — we can absolutely compete with them. If we maintain this pace of improvement, by the end of the year we could even be ahead.
Even though we lost all three maps, the overall takeaway is very positive. Our group selection also played a role, as we were thinking more about qualification scenarios than about taking a single map. On the other side of the bracket, I think we would have won the losers match. Beyond the defeats, we’ve shown that we can stand our ground — and that’s already more than we expected.
What was missing to beat GIANTX iTero? Were there stage nerves?
SLiezzan: More than nerves, it was a direct consequence of how we’ve been working. Our main issue was arriving late to plays — being late on tempo. In the second game, we managed to stay on tempo and built a solid advantage, enough to win, but we lacked ideas to extend it and turn it into something definitive.
We respected tempo, but we were short on ideas and resources to snowball. The first game was more chaotic: level one mistakes and an all-in that should have been winning but wasn’t. The second game better reflects our current level. We’re still green when it comes to closing out games with a lead.
What do you take from this first experience heading into Spring Split?
SLiezzan: First, we need to decide whether to adjust any pieces. Everything is still very recent. If we keep the roster, the goal is to continue working with the same intensity as this week, which has been extremely demanding.
If we progress well, seriously fighting for top 4 or top 5 in Spring could be realistic, and maybe even giving the top teams a scare. The guys have a lot of talent. Mechanically, they’ve positively surprised me. They lack experience and knowledge, but that will come.
We’re also a particular kind of project: a veteran captain with four young players. That can be interesting both competitively and for the league itself.
Many people know you from your time as a content creator. What was your real entry into competitive League of Legends like?
SLiezzan: I was in amateur and second division between 2015 and 2017. I coached amateur teams and was with Emonkeys in the second division. During that time, I discovered Koldo (Luis Pérez) when he was 15 and a Diamond OTP Gragas. From our very first conversation, I knew I wanted to bring him with me wherever I went. He played with me in several projects and eventually chained teams until he reached the highest level.
Later, I stopped coaching to finish my double degree in Computer Engineering and Mathematics, and I worked developing financial risk analysis software. Through Nixerino (Nicolás Canellas), I was recommended for an assistant coach interview at S2V. I wasn’t selected, but it reignited my interest.
For a year and a half, I studied the game intensively to catch up, watching over 150 games per week. At the same time, I resumed coaching Koldo individually during his time in MAD Lions, G2 Arctic, and part of KOI. Then I spent a year focused on content creation and individual coaching.
When KOI opened a public process for assistant coach, I applied and passed. That was my first professional experience. After that, I was head coach in France, and now this is my second experience as a head coach.
What does stepping into the head coach role mean to you?
SLiezzan: It’s been a natural step. I’ve always had a tendency to organize and structure things. I like planning and having control over processes. In smaller teams, you also have no choice but to take on responsibilities.
I wouldn’t have a problem going back to being an assistant or analyst if the project suited me. I’m flexible. But right now, I feel comfortable leading the project.
How did your move to LUA happen and how was the roster built?
SLiezzan: I had been in contact with management for a while. There were conversations last year, and this year, after an interview process, they chose me.
From day one, they told me they wanted to keep Dani (Daniel Gómez) and Hydra (Raúl Moreno). I could have proposed changes, but I thought it was a fantastic foundation. Dani has confirmed everything good I had heard about him, and Hydra is an exemplary professional. We wanted to build a team around that work culture.
The rest of the roster was built with my involvement. We evaluated many options. We weren’t necessarily looking for rookies; what mattered most was work ethic and professionalism. The fact that they are Spanish is positive for the league, but it wasn’t the main criterion.
They’ve worked incredibly hard, and it’s been a pleasure working with them.
Regarding the project’s continuity, it depends on the decisions we make now, but the club’s intention is to build long term. We want LUA to be a stable project and, if everything goes well, I’d like to stay for a long time and help the club reach the level of the biggest organizations.
How do you evaluate the debut of Pegaso and TIMR?
SLiezzan: Pegaso has improved massively in a very short time. He’s a jungler with great mechanical talent who needed education in other aspects of the game. He’s worked hard, has good instincts when it comes to starting fights, and if he keeps this up, he has a bright future. I think he’s at a much higher level now than when he first arrived.
As for TIMR (Tomáš), he came recommended from Central Europe. He had barely any first division experience. In the interview, he already convinced us with his work ethic, but here he’s exceeded expectations. He has an extremely professional mindset, pays attention to every detail, and mechanically he’s impressive. He has a Cristiano Ronaldo mentality.
If he maintains that mindset, he has everything to go very far. And in the support role, where Europe doesn’t exactly have an abundance of talent, he can stand out massively.
What message would you send to the fans following this project?
SLiezzan: The more support the guys receive, the better. The work culture is going to be very demanding, but we’re going to give absolutely everything to improve.
The big objective is Summer Split: to repeat performances like yesterday’s, but with the result in our favor. We want to turn that support into fuel for hard work and, over time, make LUA a reference point for League of Legends in Spain.”
