G2 Isma discusses what it takes for a roster to reach the LEC, and hints at massive adjustments coming to G2 Esports subsequent season.
G2 Esports exits the worldwide stage after a disappointing sequence loss towards Bilibili Gaming, a repeat of final yr’s outcomes. However regardless of outlasting different EMEA rosters, the Kings of Europe are nonetheless aiming excessive till they beat the East — and G2’s coach gave us uncommon insights on how they’re laying the foundations for larger wins.
In an unique interview with ESTNN, Efficiency Coach Ismael “Isma” Pedraza displays on the Samurai’s 2024 run, their lacklustre file at Worlds, and what it takes to take care of Europe’s star roster.
How is G2 Esports selecting themselves again up after one other tough Worlds run?
“It is vitally unhappy for certain. A few of our gamers would say that our yr was a failure. There’s a little frustration within the sense that we knew we might have carried out perhaps higher, or [taken] video games from the Asian groups. Proper now that it is the low season, a few of the gamers are assimilating that perhaps they did not obtain what they needed to realize performance-wise, and looking out into what occurs subsequent. It is simply the pure manner of efficiency that on the finish of the yr; just one crew goes to be comfortable, and that is simply the best way it’s.”
What particular strengths did the teaching crew concentrate on this season to assist the boys carry out at MSI and Worlds 2024?
“So for this yr, it was quite a bit about implementing lots of [the] learnings we get from worldwide occasions, particularly from final yr into this yr.. Throughout our native competitions, we received the chance to enhance a few of these strengths like BrokenBlade’s management and — from my perspective in my function — how he manages components from the day-to-day.
Which elements of your life do you attempt to instill into Caps and co. to fortify their psychological?
“I imply, finishing the [Berlin] marathon was clearly considered one of my largest objectives. I come from conventional sports activities, and competing in soccer. And with all of the depth we had this yr, I will present the blokes that whereas we’re competing at a excessive stage in esports, there may be time and area for different actions.
I mainly lead by instance, proper? There are a lot of issues I do for myself by way of restoration, diet, sleep and mindset. There’s additionally plenty of instruments I implement [both] on myself and my crew. These are alternative ways to indicate we would like excessive requirements for the crew, we need to attain our objectives, [so] you also needs to have excessive requirements for your self as an individual.
We’re 24/7 with the blokes. The consistency [we’ve] constructed begins with our crew, and it is strengthened each day.”
How do you stability engaged on what you suppose the boys want to enhance on vs. what the followers suppose?
“This can be a tough one as a result of, like a brand new yr and a brand new crew.. as an example you begin a brand new season with a special crew. This may include a fundamental understanding of the place we’re on that scale of weaknesses and strengths. As [for] efficiency, you possibly can at all times implement the technique the place you’re employed in your weaknesses through the low season or the pre-season after which reinforce the issues you’re good at in a spot just like the LEC. The splits have been tremendous quick, so it is actually arduous to mix them and work in your weaknesses like in Playoffs for instance. I do not suppose you must do this in any respect.”
Which participant has impressed essentially the most development within the crew not too long ago?
All of them encourage on particular ranges. The simple selection is for certain Yike, within the sense that he is getting increasingly more expertise on the skilled stage. That is his second yr professionally, and he is acting at a excessive stage. His Worlds was arduous [behind the scenes] as a result of there have been rumors concerning the change, and — only for gamers generally in esports — having this behind their [minds] shouldn’t be that simple.
So for him to maintain his composure, to nonetheless do his finest, nonetheless present up and be aware about issues that we have been engaged on the previous couple of years is one thing to be happy with. I feel [Yike] is the participant I’ve labored with essentially the most this yr, so I am very happy with the work we did, and the way he confirmed up in troublesome moments.
One which many followers do not get to see (as a result of I learn many feedback) that impressed me is Hans Sama as a result of folks do not actually see what he does within the crew. His management abilities have improved quite a bit, extra on the extent of in-game perspective. How one can play the sport, what he wants from his teammates, or beginning the dialog on ‘how we should always play higher right here or there’.
Plenty of macroplay components. So I feel he does a lot for the crew, and he was essentially the most constant this yr. Individuals might say in any other case as a result of he is not as flashy as different ADC’s. I feel what he does in comms and observe may be very spectacular. When he is at this stage, we name it his “Soldier Mode”. Nothing impacts him, he is very environment friendly and really stable. However not lots of people noticed that. And that is one thing that is impressed me for certain.
Will there be any adjustments in G2’s method subsequent season?
“All of us within the workers are very reflective, and we assist one another quite a bit [to] make issues work. So if we perceive these and have open-minded gamers nonetheless — as a result of for the final two years, these gamers have been very open-minded and prepared to decide to our processes and persist with it..
So as a result of we perceive them, we’ll go to our “again to high school” workshops in just a few weeks and lay out the foundations. I feel we’ll be capable to construct on what we have been constructing, and we nonetheless have the core gamers within the crew. We’ll be capable to share the work, and I feel this is essential: to share what we’ve got carried out and share what we went by means of and [teach] how we solved the puzzles after they have been nearly unimaginable to unravel.
So that is how it may look within the 2025 season. Outcomes-wise, it is at all times one thing you can’t predict 100%. However from my place, I can’t say that we are going to win like we did this yr as a result of all of it will depend on the method. All of it will depend on how we are able to put the items collectively — as a result of we can have new items — and ensure they slot in very effectively.
It by no means will get boring! We at all times need to face the challenges, and hopefully we’ll obtain results-wise what we achieved this yr and proceed build up internationally. As a result of that is nonetheless the objective, proper?”
For the most recent esports information, comply with ESTNN.
