TL LohaN: "We are trying to understand what type of game we want to play"

Although his team hasn't shown their best since the start of the competition, LohaN remains positive about the rest of Team Liquid's kickoff.

LohaN after his team's victory against Karmine Corp in Week 2. Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games

"Right now we just need time, which is something that unfortunately for kickoff we don't really have."

Team Liquid have been treading carefully during this Kickoff. With three roster changes compared to last year, the reigning VCT EMEA champions are still finding their footing in their opening matches. Despite a victory over Karmine Corp in Week 2, TL have already fallen twice, to Team Vitality and Fnatic, dropping into the lower part of the triple-elimination bracket as a result.

Once again this Thursday, the team had to battle through overtime on the third map to overcome ULF Esports, relying largely on individual talent to secure the win. Despite these relatively slow beginnings, head coach Ivo "LohaN" Albino remains optimistic about what lies ahead and is approaching his team’s current trajectory with a measured, reflective perspective ahead of a new do-or-die match this Friday against GIANTX.

What are your first impressions after today’s game?

Ivo "LohaN" Albino: "It was quite shaky. We have been struggling to get good starts in games and in the series lately. I'm happy that we won. I'm not really happy about how we won, but a win is a win, and now it's time to reset and think about tomorrow's game.

Did you expect to meet a few issues at the beginning of the season, or are there too many things that aren't going as you wish right now?

LohaN: Honestly, we are just experimenting with a lot of different things, and we are trying to understand what type of game we want to play. It's Kickoff, so I'm not really worried. We're touching the ground, understanding what our play strengths are and how we want to approach the game. It's normal that we're not going to be playing a perfect VALORANT, and we're going to be making a lot of mistakes. But if there's one thing that I believe is that this is a team that is going to achieve really good stuff on a long run.

Did you expect today's game to be tough as well? Or was it like a better chance to show what you're capable of than in the previous games?

LohaN: I don't think in Kickoff you can come into any game thinking it's going to be easy. Every game is going to be hard. There are a lot of different things like learning how the team plays, and there's not a lot of time to prepare. I don't think we can ever come into a game thinking it's not going to be hard. Every game is hard, we need to go game by game and never underestimate our opponents because, today, I think they played quite good and they were brave on the server.

What kind of mistakes made today's game difficult in your opinion?

LohaN: Mostly in decisions on both defense and attack, on the mid-round in attack, and on defense we're taking a bit too long to make any types of plans. But honestly, with time, when we'll get a bit more habits, it isn't going to be an issue, I'm quite confident.

What's the main thing you think you should improve on for the rest of the competition?

LohaN: To be more comfortable on stage, just playing our game. We are yet to show our true potential on stage. I'm not sure if we will be able to show it in Kickoff, but I'm super confident that this year we're going to show really good VALORANT.

What do you think about Wayne "wayne" Chang's performances? He's a rookie and a player with not a lot of experience. Are you satisfied with what he's been showing so far?

LohaN: He's getting more and more comfortable, honestly. It's a pleasure to watch the kid play. He needs to get used to the stage, get used to the European playstyle. He's playing his own game more and more, which is really good to see. He's a very big talent. He is going to be one of the best in the future.

You made two other changes with Semyon "purp0" Borchev and Dominykas "MiniBoo" Lukaševičius. What are your thoughts about them so far?

LohaN: They are doing well. Right now, we just need time, which is something that unfortunately, for Kickoff, we don't really have. We didn't have a lot of time for preparation, but I'm super confident in the individuals that we have. Both purp0 and MiniBoo are great players, and I believe that with time, we're going to find our identity.

Tomorrow you're playing against GIANTX. What do you expect from this game?

LohaN: Any game can be hard so we approach every game the same. Don't underestimate the opponents and let's just focus on playing our game and not so much on the other side of the server.

Is Masters Santiago a clear objective for you, considering this mindset?

LohaN: In any team that I coach, I always play to win. Right now, we're still going to aim to qualify to Santiago, if it doesn't happen, I'm fine with it, honestly. I believe that with time, we're going to start showing much better results and performances on the server. We are going game by game but still, the goal is always going to be to go as far as possible and hopefully still manage to qualify for Santiago.

So you don't mind avoiding any team for the rest of the competition?

LohaN: Give me every team, GIANTX, Team Heretics, give us another game against Fnatic. I just want to play as much games as possible and face as many different playstyles as possible. I think it's a very good learning experience for the boys, for me, and for everyone involved.