MKOI Melzhet: “G2 were just better. I was not sure how to progress the series” – LEC Versus Playoffs Interview

The series against G2 in the upper bracket of the LEC Versus Playoffs was a major reality check for MKOI, suffering an unexpected 3-0 loss. With the team dropping to the lower bracket and awaiting the winner between Karmine Corp and GIANTX, we sat down with MKOI head coach Tomás “Melzhet” Campelos Fernández to hear his thoughts on what went wrong.

Davide: It was quite a rough series.

What do you make of the entire match and what do you think was the determining factor that led you guys to a loss?

Melzhet: I think they are better, simple. Also, they did a really good preparation into us. Today was really hard to play on to draft, so they were just better.

What was your preparation like?

Melzhet: We knew that mid was going to be really contested. We wanted to just trade mid laners and prioritize bot in general, but the last game, I think it was not working really well. So we transitioned into having more range and being able to play it a bit slower, but we were not connecting.

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— Movistar KOI League of Legends (@MovistarKOILoL) February 23, 2026

I think the first game we had it in our control. We have three dragons, and we were in a really good spot, but then we threw and gave them Nashor. Then in the drake fight, it was going to end the game and we misexecute the fight, and they get the position to get the drake then we try to do weird things, and we die. After that, I think we have not been in the series, not gonna lie. I think [the] drafts could be better too, to have [some] self-criticism.

“I was not sure, after that, how to progress the series.”

Davide: Talking about the draft, we saw Seraphine for Alvaro in game 2.

It didn’t really work out in the end, but was that to deny G2’s Ashe-Seraphine bot lane or did you think it was an angle for her for your comp?

Melzhet: It was a try to deny them the Seraphine-Ashe and make a better front-to-back for us. They needed to hard commit and we had Xin Zhao to create the space.

We were in a really good position because we did really well. We kill on bot and we had BF (B.F. Sword) back. But I don’t know why we stayed and then we died and threw. We were not connecting again, we weren’t playing Seraphine-Xin Zhao together. Now, knowing what happened, I [would’ve] probably banned Braum and then contested Nautilus, or if they go Nautilus, I [would’ve gone] Alistar or Rell.

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— Movistar KOI League of Legends (@MovistarKOILoL) February 23, 2026

Davide: I was watching Caedrel’s stream, and he was suggesting a Maokai jungle pick on R5 with Aurora and Jayce for Game 3.

Was that the choice you had in mind as well?

Melzhet: No, because we don’t play Maokai Jungle and we didn’t practice, so it was not a choice. But yeah, that makes totally sense. Also, Myrwn was not that confident to play Jayce into K’Sante.

Do you think the overall level of LEC is higher this year, considering the amount of teams that we’re having like NAVI, GIANTX, and Vitality competing with one another?

Melzhet: Yeah, I already said it, I think the level of LEC is slowly growing. We are still far away and we are the first that will need to improve. So yeah, we need to keep going, but I think the tendency is going upwards.

Davide: You talked about periodization in our last chat.

What were you referring to when you meant “low intensity” days?

Melzhet: At the end of the day, it’s how you manage the energy whether they are going to finish tired or less tired during the day. You can do it differently. It depends on what you looked at [that] week or what you want to work.

You can practice simpler concept that don’t require too much reviews, and the game is easier just to play around that goal. It can be that we play less around trying new things or experimenting with new things. It depends on the mindset or the expectation: ‘Okay, let’s go and try new things, new champions, or whatever, the tension is lower, so [reviews] are more quickly. We didn’t do it but it’s also something that we have in mind: put periods where you play more scrim blocks, less night blocks, or reduce scrim blocks during those night blocks.

You can also periodize the amount of games and play around that. Mostly, it’s [about] the concepts and how hard they are to actually practice, and also the demands (expectations). When there is a high intensity day, we demand better execution, we go more into the details, and also more complex concepts.

Davide: Looking forward, you will still go to Barcelona in Spain next week.

What does it mean to you to play an event that is hosted by MKOI? Is there anything that you’re looking forward in particular next week?

Melzhet: We need to improve. That’s a fact. We need to wake up. I think now there are no excuses and to me, it’s really important because I don’t want to lose 3-0 again. I’m really pissed off, so we need to fucking step up.

Davide: There has been the news about the Esports Nation Cup.

If you were the coach of the Spanish national team, is there any player that you would like to absolutely have on your team and what would the level of the Spanish national team be among all nations?

Melzhet: I already said it, if it’s my choice, I’m not going to the tournament. So I’m not interested in that. In case there is another national coach who wants to go, I think Elyoya is the best Spanish player that we have right now. And after that, I think the Spanish level is a bit nerfed because you can only get three players per team, so you cannot get MKOI’s four players. So you need to adjust.

“The biggest problem that we have is in the mid lane. I don’t think we have a really strong lane.”

Davide: Alphari has been helping out Myrwn in the top lane.

How do you think he has contributed to the player’s growth so far?

Melzhet: He’s doing a really good job. My expectation is, of course, [that] he’s going to improve way more. It’s also his first experience as an assistant coach in LEC. With the stuff, I think we are building the structure and how we want to work, and we need to improve a lot. But both of them are working really good individually and I think that at the end of the year is going to pay off.

Is there anything else that you would like to say or add?

Melzhet: It’s a shame losing again like this, but it’s on us. So thanks for the support and I understand that people is angry. It is what it is and we need to wake up and be better. Thank you very much.