"Many Times, Mechanical Expression Has Been a Big Issue in Our Team" — Alvaro on MKOI's Struggles
Photo Credit: Riot Games
A win over Team Heretics wasn't enough on its own — MKOI needed GX to beat Fnatic right after to sneak into playoffs and secure the final Worlds-race spot. This interview took place in that suspended moment, mid-match, with everything still undecided. Support Álvaro "Alvaro" Fernández del Amo spoke candidly with RFT.GG about a year of thrown leads, the emotional weight behind them, and the honest reckoning of a team that fell from top three to the edge of missing playoffs entirely. (MKOI would ultimately qualify, dropping into the playoffs' lower bracket.)
By the time this releases, everyone will know whether you're in playoffs or not — but right now GIANTX are playing Fnatic as we talk. How are you feeling as your fate is being decided?
It feels pretty weird, because we've done our job already, but our fate — the destiny itself — is not in our hands. So I'm really wanting GIANTX to do well.
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I've even done a couple of 2v2s with them just so they get more practice — anything that gets me more chances of winning, I'll take.
It's weird that this could be the end of our year right now, or the ramp-up into playoffs.
What's your take on how MKOI got to this spot — from top three in both previous splits to waiting on other teams' results?
I think we've made plenty of mistakes performing in officials. We've thrown a lot of games. I remember the SK game, the GX game — there's been a lot of throws overall this year. I remember into G2, we lost with Soul. Into Vitality as well, there was a game we were really ahead.
So in the end it gets into your head. Even if you don't want it to happen, even if you have the tools to fight it, it's still resonating in your head when you get really ahead.
That's why I think we haven't dealt well with those emotions. It's something we've been trying to fix, and I think it's been much better. So I'm just wishing that we qualify now so we can prove it.
Without saying everything — can you walk me through what was going on inside the team before the road trip in Paris, and whether going 0-3 there affected the team's mental for the rest of the split and started that bad momentum?
We were going in confident, for sure. It was actually really enjoyable to play in front of the French crowd, even if they hate us, and the games were really fun. But none of us expected to leave 0-3. You can expect a 3-0, 2-1, 1-2 — but going out as the only team that lost everything, especially when we started with a really good game against G2, the first one that we just stomped, and kept going. And the Vitality series I think could have gone our way 2-0. Only the KC games — even in one of them we were 5k ahead — but KC was the team that actually beat us the best.
After going 0-3, we knew we had to put in a lot of effort. In that moment we were still thinking of going for top four to reach our own event, but as the split went on we were always focused on top six, because making top four was really low chances. After the road trip we all realised that what we were doing wasn't enough, both in gameplay and as a team. So we tried different ways, put in a lot of work day by day — I wouldn't say to fix the problem, but to find what's actually happening.
Because even if you have a grasp of what's happening, you don't have the full truth, since we're individuals with our own emotions and how we grew up.
So we've been trying to work through it, and I think we're doing a much better job — but there's still a long way to go.
Last year you were ramping up throughout the year — you won a split, made a final. This year, without making changes as well, you couldn't really keep up with G2, or even the new KC team. Is it a matter of individual skill, bad use of practice, discipline on stage, or being tired of playing together for three years? What made you look like you were not progressing as much this year?
This is something I've reflected on a lot — I've had a lot of time to think. The thing is, first split, Winter, we lost 3-2 to KC in the event — one game away from going to the final, and the story would've been different. We wouldn’t be the sons of KC if we'd won that series. Then Spring, we get reverse-swept 3-2 by G2 in a game where we're 10k ahead, then 3-0'd by KC — that one, they were much better. But that victory into G2 would've sent us to MSI. The history would be much different, and our mental state too.
The confidence you go with at the EWC, to MSI, all of it would have changed so much just from that game.
The perception is that we're the worst team in the world because we're not even making playoffs right now — and I’m the first to feel like this. So the perception can change really easily — the history can change a lot from one game. Right now I'm even debating my future on this GIANTX series. That's why it's interesting to actually think about yourself and all the possible scenarios. Sometimes reality can be hurtful, but in this case we've been the third-best team in Europe. And every single time KC has played us, they've shown a better face than us. So I think they're the team to beat.
Photo Credit: Riot Games
You would say they are the team to beat, more than G2 right now?
I think KC are stronger now. G2 right now is actually struggling a bit — of course they're still a really good team, but they're not at their peak performance like they usually show in playoffs and sometimes in the regular split. And I have to tell you regarding your question:
Many times, mechanical skill, mechanical expression, has been a big issue in our team. But I don't fully blame the mechanical side. I think the emotional part causes these problems in both mechanics and decision-making, because we've been really slow taking decisions.
If you're just waiting, the enemy will make a play and you just get caught. That's happened to us because we're not that confident. Even if you always say process matters, results actually matter. KC going 9-0 in a split — they're really confident every single game, they know they can pull it out. But when you're already 3-5, you're doubting yourselves: oh, I've been in this spot, I can still make the mistake. So that's a big factor.
Do you still honestly believe that on its best day this MKOI team can win the LEC?
Yeah, for sure. I still believe it, I already know it. But I also agree that if we don't show our best version, we can lose to anyone. So it's really up and down.
Right now I think we have more knowledge. Being a better team depends on a lot of momentum and different things. I think we're a better team in terms of understanding, but not a better team in terms of performing, if that makes sense.
This might have been the last match you ever played with this roster. Looking back, are you proud of what you've accomplished together? You won a split, took games off Asian teams…
I'm always proud of what we're able to achieve.
But at the same time, I have regrets — I think we could have done way more.
I'm not sure what will happen next year either. If we don't qualify for these playoffs, it could be that some of my teammates leave, or maybe I get kicked. I don't know where we're going to end up.
In your opinion, would changes be necessary if you don't qualify — if you don't make the miracle run happen?
If we don't qualify for playoffs, I think changes will be made and should be made.
But if, let’s say, we do a good run at Worlds, I can still see the same roster staying.
Maybe some changes because someone is just not working anymore for example. But yeah, otherwise changes have to be made, and I understand it, because we don't get paid little money to perform like this. So it makes sense.
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To close out, I want you to give me two versions — a message for the fans as if you're in, and one as if you're out — and I'll put the right one in the article.
I'm really grateful we can have this opportunity, after GIANTX winning against Fnatic. I think we can do a much better job, and we can ramp up into Worlds. Playing lower bracket gives you a lot of momentum, it's a lot of series where we'll have the opportunity to actually show up. And I think it's going to be an enjoyable experience, if we win the first series, we go to Nice already. It’s three best-of-fives to reach the final. I hope all the fans keep supporting us and cheer for us.
