After a contested series against Team Heretics in the 2nd week of VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA Stage 2, Gentle Mates find themselves grappling with another difficult loss, one that, by all accounts, slipped through their fingers. A commanding lead on Corrode gave way to hesitation and mounting pressure, revealing lingering mental blocks that continue to affect the team’s ability to close out matches. In a post-match interview, Gentle Mates head coach, Alex "goked" Kie, offered a measured assessment of their performance, highlighting both the progress made and the urgent need to strengthen their mental resilience ahead of the next stage.

Gentle Mates faced Team Heretics today. How would you describe the match outcome and your team’s overall performance?

Alex "goked" Kie: "It’s a bit tough to lose a game like that, especially when it felt like it was in our hands. I think this has been a recurring pattern over the last two series. In terms of performance, I believe the boys have been playing well overall. However, we're clearly dealing with some mental blocks when we're on stage. That’s somewhat expected given the circumstances, but it doesn’t excuse it. We need to address these issues directly and work hard to fix them. On one hand, we're encouraged by the fact that we’re often the dominant team in these series in both recent matches; we genuinely felt like the stronger side on the server. But on the other hand, we’re aware that these mental hurdles are difficult to overcome when it comes to closing out games. We need to take a serious look at it and continue putting in the work. The boys are handling these losses with a strong mindset, and I can already see progress from last week to this week. So I’m confident next week will be even better.

On Corrode, you were leading 12-4. What do you think is needed to close out games like that?

goked: I believe we just need to have more trust in what we usually do. When we’re close to finishing the game, I feel like hesitation creeps in. Nobody wants to be the one making a mistake, and as a result, we end up losing space and information that we typically control. That makes it much harder to execute. Overall, I’d say our attack on Corrode has generally been solid, at least in practice. And today, it was just tough to close it out. But we’ll learn from it.

In the previous match, we saw NAVI pick Cypher on Corrode, whereas you opted for Vyse. What does Vyse bring that Cypher doesn’t?

goked: I think both agents are viable. We've tested different compositions, and Vyse felt a bit more suited to our style. This agent helps us with our default setups, particularly on attack side. We also value its ultimate highly on this map. Minny (Patrik Hušek) is capable of playing both agents well, but we felt Vyse's toolkit aligned better with how we wanted to approach Corrode strategically.

How would you describe the new map from a strategic perspective? Would you say it leans more towards attack or defense, and why?

goked: It really depends. Teams are still experimenting with very different compositions, so some struggle more on defense, others on attack. I think mid control is extremely important on this map, and today we didn’t play for it as we normally do. That cost us. Mid presence affects rotations significantly for defenders, making them much longer and more difficult. Teams that are beginning to understand how to control mid-space are generally the ones finding more success. The meta is still evolving, but a few teams are clearly figuring it out.

After facing a difficult comeback in the second half, what did you say to keep the players proactive and mentally focused for the next map?

goked: I simply reminded them that they had played an incredible game and that the loss came from hesitation, not from being outplayed. All we needed to do was try not to second-guess ourselves in key scenarios. That’s easier said than done, of course, but the focus was on reinforcing the fact that we lost due to our own doubts. The message was to move past that mentally. Again, it's not easy, especially when rounds start slipping away, but I don’t blame them. They’re doing a great job, and they’re growing stronger mentally every day. We’re moving in the right direction.

After finishing last in Stage 1 and making major roster changes, how did you prepare the team for this match against Heretics?

goked: We’ve been playing really well, to be honest. We feel like a much better team now. Practice is just practice, of course, but it's shown us that the potential is there. Our preparation has focused on giving the players as much experience as possible. That’s why we participated in an off-season tournament in Turkey, even though it reduced our practice time a bit. We knew it was important for them to gain comfort on stage quickly, because the raw level of this roster is genuinely high.

About the roster rebuild, what tactical adjustments did you emphasize heading into Stage 2?

goked: I think we’ve now found our new playstyle. The previous roster had a solid identity, but we were underperforming in crucial moments. With this new lineup, things are clicking a bit more naturally. Unlike some other teams, we had to build this roster from scratch, and we didn’t have much time. So we focused on understanding what our team needed and made changes accordingly.

You’ve coached at organizations like KOI and Leviatán. What lessons from those experiences are you applying to Gentle Mates?

goked: As a coach, you're constantly learning. One of the key lessons I took from coaching at the VCT level is how important it is to build a cohesive group one which people genuinely enjoy working together. We’re spending so much time side by side that team chemistry becomes essential. You also learn to recognize different player profiles and figure out how to get the best out of each individual. My goal is to maximize their potential by helping them feel confident and comfortable, so they can perform at their best.

What is your overall coaching philosophy when it comes to building strategy and motivating players during a challenging season like this?

goked: My approach is to understand the players first and then build the team’s playstyle around them. Of course, we have to adapt to the meta, but I believe each player should also have the freedom to express themselves and grow in their own way. It’s about finding a common structure that everyone can feel comfortable within, and from there, either follow the meta or develop our own identity as a team.

Gentle Mates’ league spot is at stake if results don’t improve. How do you manage that pressure and keep the team focused on progress?

goked: That’s something we talked about today. The pressure is real, we’re not the only team in this situation, and we’re starting the season with some difficult matchups. We all care deeply about this club. Everyone wants to see Gentle Mates stay in the VCT, and that pressure is part of what drives us. But again, there are no excuses. We have to embrace that pressure and stay focused on the process. If those thoughts start creeping in and weighing on you mentally, you have to acknowledge them and move forward. Everyone on this team is still quite young, and I know it’s not always easy, but they’re doing a good job. That fear of failure is also what fuels us to keep grinding every day.

When preparing for matches at this level, what aspects do you focus on most during practice?

goked: We try to find compositions we’re comfortable with. We’re quite a flexible team in that sense. We can adapt compositions depending on the opponent. We do a fair bit of anti-stratting; we study what our opponents do. I think our preparation for Ascent today was strong in that regard. We don’t aim to completely alter our playstyle, but we do look for areas we can exploit within our own framework. Ultimately, it’s about feeling confident with the agents and comps we’re running, and making sure everyone understands how we want to play as a unit.

Finally, what key lessons or objectives will you and the team take away from today’s game as you move forward in Stage 2?

goked: We need to stop being afraid to win. It’s a phrase you hear often in esports, but it’s a real issue. We have to learn how to close out games without fear, without abandoning our identity. We can’t afford to let nerves change the way we play. If we’re going to lose, let’s lose playing our game, but let’s never be afraid of winning."