During the LFL Days, Gentle Mates defeated Aegis. An opportunity for M8's midlaner, Rémy "Eika" Valdenaire, to take his "revenge" against his former team. Very happy with his debut at M8, the veteran of the French and European competitive scene still wishes good luck to his former team for the rest of the season.
Sheep Esports: Are you delighted to have possibly experienced revenge against them, or, on the contrary, do you feel a bit of empathy after lowering the ranking of a team with whom you have a history?
Eika: "I am very happy, but it's true that at the base, it's still my former team, so I still feel a bit sorry for them. But overall, I am happy with how we won. I didn't necessarily think of them when we won, but it still saddens me a bit. I still hope they will have a good season."
Did you consider that you would play against your former team and that maybe they could prepare for your play style, knowing your strengths and weaknesses?
"I think it can be taken into account by the teams, but there, I think it didn't have too much impact. Let's say Chama knew my champions, but the meta has changed a lot and the priorities too, so afterward, I knew they were going to take Orianna, well, I knew they were going to take her before us, so let's say we were ready."
Do you think that at Gentle Mates, you define the team's play style a bit? Could there be similarities between last year's Aegis and this year's Gentle Mates?
"Regarding the play style, I saw that it was talked about a lot on social media, but I don't think I define the team's play style. Basically, we just play champions that we think are very strong, strong enough, and we build compositions around them, and we play like that. For example, Corki, in the first week, was strong, and we won't stop playing Corki because it scales, and that's it. After that, it doesn't mean that when we pick scaling champions, we can't play the early game. So, no, I wouldn't say that I shape the teams I play in, but it's true that sometimes, the drafts are very similar."
As someone who has been playing on the competitive scene for a long time, do you take on the role of a veteran, a leader in the team outside the game?
"I would say that it happens somewhat naturally; I have been given this image of a captain, but honestly, it doesn't bother me; it's something I like. Reassuring people, always being behind them to push them, is something I like, and it also allows me to boost myself. It's really cool, and let's say it's something very natural."
You have played for several teams, is M8 the team with the most present fan base or where you feel the most support?
"Clearly, Gentle Mates, whether on social media or in person, it's incredible. Honestly, it's completely another world. After Aegis last year, it was already huge; it was noisy and very present. But at M8, it's really the number. When we see on social media when we were announced, there were immediately thousands of messages, it was really amazing. In fact, what is most incredible about M8 fans is that they don't understand the game, or not all of them play, but they support us as if they have been following LoL for 10 years. I find it incredible to follow players of a game that you don't even know. It's amazing."
Is it still a goal to play again in the LEC or in a higher league?
"I think about it from time to time, that's for sure. After, would it be my goal... Honestly, it's hard to say. I think now, I would like to have a project that interests me and to play again with players I like, or just to know who it's going to work well with. I'm looking more for a project than a place in the LEC."
