After a tense victory over GAM Esports, Fnatic advances further in Worlds 2024. However, the upcoming match against Top Esports, one of the strongest teams in the LPL, raises concerns among fans. In an exclusive interview with SheepEsports, the team’s jungler Iván "Razork" Martín Díaz candidly discussed Fnatic's gameplay issues and what still needs improvement for a strong tournament performance.
Early Game Problems
Despite the victory, Razork admitted that the match against GAM was far from ideal. "I think it wasn't the cleanest win. But it's still a win, and it matters," he noted, adding that the team urgently needs to improve its early game. Fnatic often starts with significant disadvantages, which can be fatal in later tournament stages. "We need to better adapt in situations with circle trades," Razork emphasized, explaining that early-stage mistakes can cost the game against strong opponents.
Key moments of the match with GAM
At the ten-minute mark, Fnatic's toplaner was significantly behind in levels and gold, complicating the game for the team. Razork detailed this moment: "I knew what we had to do because I felt they made a mistake, and we should have invaded the enemy bot side camps". However, the opponent leveraged their advantage, forcing Fnatic to find ways to come back. "When our Gnar died and they took all camps, I realized it would be a tough game", Razork explained.
Inconsistent Results
Fnatic struggles with the early game, although they've improved in late-match stages. "We have become much better at coming back into games. But the downside is we lose all early games", Razork admitted. He noted that despite all efforts, coming back against world-class teams, especially Asian teams, is incredibly difficult. "If the opposing team doesn't make mistakes—and the best Asian teams make very few—coming back will be hard", he added.
Tournament Expectations
According to Razork, Fnatic is still developing and finding their game at Worlds. He talked about confidence issues with some players, especially those participating in Worlds for the first time: "For Jun, it's his first World Championship, so it's quite normal that he isn't as proactive and confident, but I think he’s improving". Overall, Razork is convinced that the team can overcome the challenges and perform with dignity: "We just play our game. If we lose, we lose. If we win, we show our best".
Prospects on Advancing to Playoffs
Fnatic's chances of reaching the quarterfinals remain uncertain. Razork acknowledges that the tournament format makes match outcomes unpredictable. "This format is a complete coin flip. One day you might face the strongest team, another day a really bad one", he explained. Despite this, the jungler remains optimistic and urges fans to believe in the team: "The theme of this Worlds is to make them believe, right? So just believe".
Loyalty to Fnatic's Style
Razork also addressed fans who have supported the team throughout the years, despite its ups and downs. "The only thing I want to say is sorry for giving you these games... Such games are just the Fnatic style. You never know what will happen in our games", he noted with a smile, promising fans even more unexpected moments at Worlds 2024.
Source: Sheep Esports
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