NAVI captain Aleksi “AleksiB” Virolainen gave an interview to Hotspawn, in which he assessed the team’s disappointing start to the new season, discussed the lessons learned from the EWC, and explained what the roster is working on ahead of upcoming tournaments.
The loss to Legacy was particularly disappointing for NAVI due to the nature of the match. According to AleksiB, the team couldn’t handle the psychological pressure in key moments and failed to communicate effectively. Even when holding strong positions, NAVI lost most of the decisive moments. In the captain’s opinion, Legacy was better prepared mentally and had the edge in the small details, which led to a 10–2 score in each of the opening halves. At the same time, AleksiB does not consider this loss a reason to panic.
He noted that the team continues to work on the fundamentals and details of their gameplay, and that by the end of the season, NAVI will still have plenty of opportunities to return to their usual level, find their rhythm, and once again compete for deep runs in tournaments.
Changes to NAVI are inevitable
AleksiB believes that talk of possible changes at NAVI has become a common part of the professional scene, although he sometimes finds the community’s reaction too harsh. He cited Spirit as an example—a team that had already been written off after a poor start to the EWC but ultimately went on to win the tournament. According to NAVI’s captain, even the strongest teams experience slumps, so one rough patch doesn’t necessarily mean everything needs to be changed immediately. At the same time, AleksiB acknowledged that roster changes are inevitable and will most likely occur during this season as well.
The captain also noted that NAVI is receiving enough support and time from the organization to turn things around. The team has high expectations after winning two trophies, so the players themselves are eager to return to their best form. For now, according to AleksiB, there’s no point in thinking about possible roster changes—it’s more important to get their game back on track, regain confidence, and use the upcoming tournaments to fight for a third title this season.
New Performance Coach and Training for the M80
AleksiB spoke about Ursula’s departure from NAVI and noted that her work did not end with her move to Astralis. According to him, the psychologist shared a great deal of practical knowledge with the team, which the players have already incorporated into their own habits and approach to their work. The club is currently testing a new performance coach—Marina Mospan—while the team continues to apply the methods developed by the previous coach.
The captain also commented on NAVI’s preparations for the new season. The team has had time to work on Cache, but since they haven’t played an official match on that map yet, it’s difficult to assess their level of readiness. As for their first opponent—M80—there wasn’t much time for full preparation due to the short break after Paris. AleksiB expects a tough matchup and emphasizes that NAVI cannot underestimate their opponent. The match between NAVI and M80 will take place today at 5:00 p.m.