FNC Humanoid: "I actually can't believe that we managed to lose from those positions"

Marek "Humanoid" Brázda, Fnatic's Mid Laner, in between games during the LEC 2024 Summer Finals.

"It's just us not knowing how to finish a game."

After G2 Esports dashed Fnatic's hopes and dreams this weekend, the team's captain and midlaner, Humanoid (Marek Brázda), speaks with Sheep Esports to discuss the brutal loss in the LEC 2024 Summer Finals. Despite a disappointing end to the playoffs, Marek expresses hope for the future in this exclusive League of Legends interview, as Fnatic now looks toward the Season Finals.

What are your first feelings after this 0-3 loss in the Grand Finals?

Marek "Humanoid" Brázda: We had three games where we were super far ahead and I actually can't believe that we managed to lose from those positions. So yeah, it doesn't feel too great.

What do you think caused the team's underperformance today?

Humanoid: We are just too nervous, I would say. Today I felt it a lot, because we have never actually been winning against them. I feel like when we are winning and it's the finals, we just put so much pressure on ourselves when we don't even have to do anything to end the game. We just feel like we need to fight or something. And yeah, it just comes with experience, because these games usually you have to play slow and we are just not able to do that.

What changed from last week's victory over G2 to this week's loss? Was it stress, or did G2 play differently?

Humanoid: I think they played worse this week than they did last week, but so did we. I guess I don't know; our late game today was just really bad. Other than that, we had such a good lead. So, yeah, I don't think anything changed. It's just us not knowing how to finish a game.

Fans have been really critical of the level of play in Europe, especially since it feels like G2 won this title by putting themselves in losing positions in almost every single game. What is your take on the current level of play in the LEC, and do European teams have a chance at Worlds?

Humanoid: I think for sure against the top Asian teams there's a huge gap. Both teams today, including us, played really, really bad. Same as last week. So yeah, if this is our top level, then we probably can't win.

Fnatic during the LEC 2024 Summer Finals Opening Ceremony. Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games

Would you say that your recent streak of defeats has impacted your confidence?

Humanoid: Our confidence now is way higher than it ever was. I think we all felt like we would win today, especially seeing how we won last week and how G2 played yesterday. Every single split we get better and better. So even though it was 3-0 today, it was way closer than it was before. Coming into the Season Finals in two weeks, we will be even more confident.

Can you take anything from this playoffs match to improve for the Season Finals, and do you think you'll be able to beat G2 next time?

Humanoid: I'm pretty confident we can beat them. We just need to not throw late game. I think today was actually just really free. So, yeah, next time I think we will show a better form.

How do you feel about Oh "Noah" Hyeon-taek's performance and progress throughout the season? Do you feel he performed well?

Humanoid: I’m pretty happy with how he played this last split. After the Esports World Cup, he played really well. He had a lot of issues with playing on stage before or in high-pressure games, but he is getting a lot better at that. Today he made some mistakes later, but early game he played really well and was winning lane, so I’m happy with him.

Humanoid and Noah after defeating G2 Esports last week. Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games

How do you feel about the current midlane meta and the champion pool?

Humanoid: I am happy with it, but it shouldn't be like this for a long time. They should mix it up a bit. The problem is that every single ADC has, for no reason, 450 movement speed. When you play a mage with 380 movement speed and try to hit spells on an enemy ADC who also does more damage than you, it just makes no sense to play mages, unless it’s Azir who can’t miss his spells. So, yeah, I think there’s a systemic issue with what they did. They just gave AD carries too much movement speed for no reason.

What are your plans for the break before the season finals start?

Humanoid: I'm probably not going to do anything. I’m just going to play the game—that’s pretty much it.

If you could choose a Czech team for the Esports Olympic Games 2025, which players would you select for each role?

Humanoid: I would put myself in mid, Carzzy (Matyáš Orság) as the AD carry, Denik (Petr Haramach) as the support, and then Patrik (Patrik Jírů) in either top or jungle. For the other role, I’m not sure because we don’t really have any standout players in those positions, so it’s going to be a hard one.

Do you think this team could win some games?

Humanoid: I think so. I mean, there will probably be a lot of countries with rosters that aren't great, so we could get some wins. Unless we face Korea or China in the first round and then go home.

Do you have any final words or messages for the Fnatic fans before we end the interview?

Humanoid: Thank you guys for following us. I know there were a lot more expectations than what we showed today, but we will work hard to make it better next time.

Header Photo Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games