KC Reha: “There’s no reason not to dream going as far as possible”

I had a chance to sit down and discuss LEC ambitions with the Head coach of Karmine Corp: Rehareha “Reha” Ramanana. We talked a lot about the game, KC’s identity in BO1, the utilization of Martin “Yike” Sundelin, and the development of Vladimiros “Vladi” Kourtidis. Then he told me about the team’s possible ambitions at the international level…

Editorial note: The interview was conducted before Week 2 of the LEC.

Ethan: Congratulations, I guess it was important to win today. You’re coming off two victories of high rank all the same, because you fell G2, and now KOI which is among the favorites on paper for this year.

How do you feel and how does the team feel?

Reha: I think the team, we’re happy. Myself, I’m still quite happy, satisfied in a way. But I think there are a lot of points, small details that we have to review. In regards to the directives we gave I think that almost everything has been respected. But I think that there are still points that are very important that we must mention as a team. But otherwise, yes, happy, satisfied. It is ok that we start with 2-0. We know that with this format, in fact, It’s important to start without a lump in your stomach.

Ethan: You have experienced that last year.

Reha: Indeed, I experienced the exact opposite, in a situation where stress and anxiety are at their maximum because you don’t want to be Bottom 2 and you’re fighting for bottom 2. We’re giving ourselves very good chances, we’re also giving ourselves a lead, which I think that if we do a 3-0 for example, (they didn’t).

We can already try to project ourselves on the future, without necessarily going too fast, because we’re on a Fearless split, so it’s something that we’re going to have to mention the more we advance. I’m happy, satisfied, I think it’s normal given the efforts we put in during the off-season, during the preparation of the split. I’m very happy, I’m satisfied for the moment.

Ethan: On the BO1, I also have the impression that there is something that is important, is to set a bit of a game identity, and I feel like you did it pretty well, I think KCorp identity is quite pronounced, you really enjoy playing around range carries I have the impression.

Read also: LEC Winter Split Tierlist

Do you find it important to establish an identity and to stick to it in order to win some BO1s?

Reha: I think it’s important, I think it’s above all a a question of replicating what we did in training and that training be well structured around which composition we are going to play on the stage. And that, I think we did it very well. In fact, I think that The composition we play in Blue, the composition we play in Red, we played those… I couldn’t say how much but. Literally this week we have been playing those at least 12 times on each side, So we know these drafts very well. After that, it’s especially one question, that’s the thing about BO1s, the preparation of the draft really has to be pixel ready, to the decision ready. I think that maybe yesterday we had a little mistake 4-5 and today I think that in reality everything was ok.

We knew we were going to play in this roundup, we knew that it would happen In this case, we had prepared the scenario and in fact we also found ourselves with a scenario where we fall back on our feet, that’s also very important. Afterwards, from there to say identity, I think that it’s a question of meta too in a way actually. You have champions which are strong and therefore you are forced to play them. For example, you play Varus in a lot of games actually, you’re not going to be able to play on hit, you have to play Varus lethality. So that you have to be disciplined around range And then I think we have good players. In fact, these compositions are drafted because we practiced those in scrims.

Ethan: That’s what I was going to say, is that it must be complicated. Let’s say that these are drafts that are complicated to play for LEC players in general. Not all teams are capable of playing range drafts at that level. Especially against the biggest teams like you did, like G2 or Koi, which are prepared against that. So you, would say that it’s not your identity either, But just that for now, you’re on to that.

Reha: I think that identity, That’s a big word. I think we have strengths in some drafts, especially the ones we played. But for the time being I think that That’s really the strong point we have, then let’s see if we can do as well on stage. In fact we are very versatile I think as a team, We are very flexible on the different compositions we can play. So now we have to see how, because we still haven’t played the other compositions, so until the we play these compositions, we have to see how it goes. If we manage to translate what we did in scrims on stage. Identity is really a big word. I think that the fruit of the training we have done.

Ethan: You talk about versatility, it reminds me a bit of a player and it’s Yike. We know that his mojo is originally playing carries. That’s where I see you smiling a little. It is known that his favourite style is playing carries. Last year at G2, he played other things. But basically, Yike is still a big carry player. So far, you’ve mostly used him on setup junglers…

Why is that?

Reha: It’s really unlucky. It’s unlucky for him, because in reality, carry comps we have a lot of them but yes it’s just unlucky. Well in the scenarios we had, we said in this case you have to lock Seujani and there, it’s up to you to take the Maokai, so I think it’s just unlucky. After that, in fact, he’s a very good carry player we know it and we’re ready to play on these compositions. But actually the thing that is interesting, in fact at G2, the compositions on which he has the highest winrates are with the two champions we played. It is Sejuani Maokai. Yes, that’s why I think we’re very versatile and I I also know that he is very very efficient on carries too. But I think it’s a style of play that is… in Europe in any case It’s harder to play because in fact everyone has to be Individually very strong but in fact I think we’re all individually very strong in the team so in fact we will be able to play this kind of compositions. And then also, there is another question, which is that, thematically, some compositions counter others. So in fact, this is where That’s interesting.

The big strength for Yike is that in In fact, he’s been at G2 for two years. And so, that’s two years that he has been doing MSI, Worlds, etc.

So all the metas, he played them so he knows them. So then, in fact, I know his preferences and it’s very easy for us to draft depending on the preferences he has. I think so My role there on this split is to make sure that Caliste on one hand, He makes his transition, he plays, but I have no worries about that… I know it’s okay there may be some hooks here and there in some games, You see, it happens.

Yike, he has to be, I’m not going to say the league MVP, but yes, you see, let him be capable of being the player he wants to be and that he is given the keys to certain points, I think. That’s really what’s important.

In comparison we could have maybe done the same thing with Closer but we were on a timing and a preparation that is very very small compared to other teams than, the transition when we switched to carry junglers it didn’t go very well in the BO5 against BDS it shows but it’s not necessarily his fault in particular I think it’s also mine so that’s really what we’ve failed now this is what we have learned from these failures and we know we can do better for Yike.

Ethan: I also wanted to talk a little bit about a player, it’s funny because Raphaël “Targamas” Crabbé has mentioned it on the official broadcast, in his interview. I had prepared the question like that about Vladi. I think he’s getting the show stolen by all the stars you have, etc. How do you see Vladi, his evolution too, because he was there at Summer last year, he was also at KCB before that.

How about his evolution so far and do you think it would be possible for him to reach the top, let’s say Humanoid and Caps this year or will it take more time?

Reha: In fact, I was already saying it last year, I don’t consider myself Vladi’s number 1 fan but I have a lot of hope in him, he knows it, so that implies too A lot of responsibility for his gameplay, his attitude, his behavior in the team. It is a a normality that this kind of player contests the top, because he has everything to do it. In the sense of personality, mechanics, game knowledge now I think that he has improved a lot about it. Maybe what he is missing a little It’s about leadership and the last point is also very important in relation to him especially as a midlaner, his ability to clutch games, you see, That’s very important, maybe it’s the last step I’m waiting for, but I know that last year when I had already started to discuss this kind of things Well he makes a Shurima Shuffle against SK and, we win the game. So in fact I know that for me it’s a normality precisely for him to go and challenge the top of the the midlane in Europe. Of course, you always have to show respect on those who are there and who dominate for many years, but I think that he has nothing to envy. The only point on which he really had to improve last year It was the Lane phase. I think that yesterday against Caps it went very well, today against Jojo it’s going really well even if he has some good match-ups.

Ethan: There was a lack of good match-ups last year from what he often said…

Reha: Are you flaming me *laugh*?

Ethan: No, but it was often him who had to blind…

Reha: Yes he had to blind pick a lot of match-ups but then I think that in fact the problem with this is that we needed to have sides that are strong, you know. I think that Canna was very strong but I think that, for example, we were a little bit stuck on the Ezreal meta, Kaisa etc. Which means that in fact you don’t necessarily have any pressure in bot, especially if you play Ashe, Kalista etc I think that was the problem because I think it’s ok blind pick mid but that’s still… For example this game he blind picks mid, but in fact he blind pick the best champion of the game. So It’s easy you see, but on the other hand we have to be consistent also with our drafts. I think that’s kind of what was missing last year in fact we had a lot of sinner comps or reverse sinner comps Sinner comps usually that I call it, it’s like drafts where like it’s for example the draft of KOI it’s a sinner comp you see, there’s no engage, you only have strong lanes theoretically and GL, you have to win on your early, we were the opposite, we were going to draft scaling and GL to us if we manage to win the games.

If we arrive to arrive on drakes or on barons with a deficit gold that is correct and that we manage to win here it’s really the objective to be quite consistent with this and that in fact we don’t find ourselves in compositions like that, but in balanced compositions like today’s. I think we have Varus, Rell, against Kalista Renata, it’s a losing matchup but that’s no big deal because we have Corki on Ahri, the counterpick top and we also have a jungler who can afford to sacrifice camps if he needs it you see.. To come back to Vladi, for me it’s normal if he challenges the top of the table, but the question is behind. And if we go to the first international events, but we’re still a long way from that so I can’t tell you right away, but sky is the limit.

Ethan: Precisely I’m going to talk about sky is the limit, Sorry. I wanted to ask you, because let’s be honest, It seems doable to go to the international tournaments. It’s just the beginning we don’t know at all what tomorrow will bring, but in In any case, it seems feasible on paper and with the performances you show as soon as you entered the LEC.

Do you think it’s doable this year to do good performances there, or is it too early to tell?

Reha: In fact I want to say yes to you because I believe in my players, I believe in my team and in fact I think that, I think that also in fact we study a lot the Asian teams, you see, we’re really trying to see, understand the full process, so for us it’s going to be interesting to test ourselves against them, plus we have already tested ourselves against them during the off season because we had scrim with many of the Worlds team.

I want to tell you yes. But I have to be humble and I I think humility is important too. First of all, let’s qualify there and then.

I think that for example last year it was really very difficult the transition from the LFL to the LEC for me at least and for the team. We also have to see now even if we already have players who made Worlds. How does this transition between LEC and international events will be done. I think it’s too arrogant to say that we’re going to go, we’re going to break the head of everyone, even if that’s the end goal. But I think that if we want to get there serenely.

The objective is when we get there, it’s to try to win inevitably, but to learn from the lessons that we will have there. That’s really very important and that’s staff only. Players, because laning phase wise they will be more contested, etc.

But it is also our job to understand what other teams are doing that makes us get screwed. Because I think that, as G2 often says, they are not punished at international events. And actually, that’s also interesting, because I think that in scrims too, Yike makes a lot of mistakes on certain things. But in fact, that’s because at G2, He can afford to make these mistakes, and so that’s what’s going to be interesting too, Because there, let’s say, there was a lot of team that didn’t respect us, Now they’re going to start respecting us, and that’s what. I think, go step by step, that’s really the goal, I think there’s no reason not to dream going as far as possible. After that, we will have to put the objectives where they are needed. In this first split, it’s still to consolidate as a top team in Europe, to challenge the title. In any case, we have to try to contest the title, that’s really what it’s all about And then, when we go to international events, We will have to put the objectives back.

But results oriented objectives, Is this the right thing to do? I don’t necessarily think so when we are young players and especially when we are in a region that has naturally not shine in recent years.

Rapid Fire Questions:

• Win Winter or Spring split? Win Spring.
• Coach the actual GX roster or the actual FNC roster? I can’t answer that, sorry.
• Win against G2 in final, or win against KOI in final? Win against G2.
• Parus or Skewmond? Huhh. I’d say Parus.
• Jojopyun or Jackies? Jojo, still.
• LPL or LCK? LCK, don’t overdo it. I am a big fan of the LPL tho.
• Make a “What’s the color” for KCX or for a Worlds’ quarter-final? I have to say Worlds quarter finals, because I’ve never experienced it. But doing it at KCX is always a pleasure.