[EXCLUSIVE] Fnatic Oscarinin makes a Bold Declaration "My goal is to be the best Top Laner in the world"

League of Legends

11 Apr

Foo Zen-Wen

Fnatic Óscar "Oscarinin" Muñoz Jiménez sat down with Strafe Esports following their victory over Team Vitality in the Playoffs Lower Bracket. He spoke on the team's performance, his personal growth as a player, as well as his long-term goal.

[Interviewer] Hi Oscarinin, hope you are doing well today. Coming off a Best-of-5, what was your experience like throughout this entire series? What was running through your head facing off against Vitality?

Before the series, we already knew that it was going to be really chaotic because that’s how Vitality wants to play the game. I think they really want to fight and make the game really crazy. So, we knew that it was going to be like this. I think we also played a little of their game – sometimes.

I think we were not coming from a super good level. So, we knew we were going to make it messy too. But I think we played way better than last series. Anyways, we knew that if we made it a bit calm, we would win. I think we didn’t make it calm, but we won it anyways, so it’s fine.

[Interviewer] You guys were really cooking in this series. Diana Game 1, Rek’Sai, Zac Game 3 and 4. Could you talk me through some of the spicy levels that you guys were cooking with this series.

Yeah, the Diana. I think it was a decent game for it. I think Malphite last pick maybe f**cked us a bit, not going to lie. But I think the Diana, they played it in the LCK, it’s good into Ahri and the rest of their comp. So, Marek [Humanoid] wanted to play, and we lost. But I don’t think it was because of the Diana pick.

I think we played pretty bad. And on the Zac, I think it’s kind of normal at this point. I think it’s just a good champion in general with some comps.

[Interviewer] I mean, I believe you won Player of the Game for this series. So, how do you feel? How do you feel about your performance today?

I think I played pretty good every game. I think I was really solid and doing my job. Like just doing 50-50 lanes and we were winning with tanks. So, it was pretty chill, pretty nice just stomping fights. (grinning) Just doing my job, I guess. I was having fun, just playing the fights with my tank, so, it was nice.

[Interviewer] Awesome haha. You guys will be facing BDS this Saturday. How are you feeling about this matchup personally? You’ll be going up against Adam. What are your expectations for this series, is it going to be chaotic again?

No, I think against BDS it’s going to be like, way different. They’re a really slow team and they like to play for set-ups and for teamfights. They don’t really want to make the game chaotic. I think it’s going to be way more disciplined and slower against them.

So, I think the team that plays better as a group is going to win. I don’t think it’s going to be individual; I think it’s going to be more as a team.

[Interviewer] Coming in, this is now your second year in the LEC. I kind of want to speak a little bit. Could you tell me a little bit on how you feel you have developed as a player, the experience you have gained across your 2 years so far?

I feel good. I don’t feel lost right now. Like this year and after going to Worlds; I think it gave me a lot of experience and perspective on how good players play the game and everything. So, just being on the Worlds’ stage, I think it gives you a lot of experience and confidence – since I think I played decently.

And also, I could see the mistakes from really good players. So, they’re not invincible you know. You can beat them. You just to work and be good enough. So, yeah, I think I’m way more experienced and right now, I think I’m playing way better. So yeah, I feel good in the LEC.

[Interviewer] Was it the Worlds’ stage that really have you the confidence? When you started out, people weren’t really sure how you would do, but now you’ve found your footing and become an excellent top laner. What finally clicked for you?

Like, I would say that I just needed confidence in myself, and I was playing really well at the time. So, I really talked with myself. And I tried to make myself confident because that’s what I needed. I was just playing really bad because I was not confident enough, I guess.

So, just with games and scrims, and playing against the best players, I’m just seeing that they are not that insane. I think you just get confidence and slowly you will play better and be more chill on-stage. I guess I just needed some time.

[Interviewer] Could you also speak a little on the synergy in this Fnatic roster?

I think we’re working pretty well. Like at least in bot lane at least. The Koreans talk a lot with each other, and I understand them pretty well. So, they’re pretty chill in bot lane. And I think Iván [Razork] and Marek always worked pretty well – even though people didn’t always agree.

I think we talk a lot as a team and we always try to improve and to point out each other’s mistakes. It’s pretty healthy and pretty nice. I think we’re playing good as a team, in general.

[Interviewer] What would you characterize as Fnatic’s strongest strength coming into Spring?

I would say, when we’re playing well, I think we’re really disciplined, I think we play really well with tempo and know what we should play for. I think we’re also not that meta dependent. We can play many styles – so, we can do many different types of drafts at the LEC level. So yeah, I think those two things.

[Interviewer] Would you rank yourselves among the top three teams in the LEC currently?

It’s hard to say. I think we should be better than BDS if we are playing well. And on G2, I think it depends on if we can come back to our best level. I think if we have our best level, like we had in regular split, I think we can beat them. If not, it’s obviously going to be hard. But I think if we come back to our level, I think we can be better than them (G2).

[Interviewer] Again coming back to the point, it’s now your second year in the LEC. What’s your long-term goal? Is it Worlds? You want to be the best team in the world? What’s your goal in mind that drives you forward?

For now, first I want to win LEC. I want to be the best top laner in the LEC. And obviously my goal is to be the best top laner in the world. Obviously I would really like to win Worlds, but my goal is to be the best top laner in the world. So, if I am, it’s going to be easier to win Worlds right? For now, that’s my long-term goal.

Fnatic will next play against Team BDS. This series is for qualification to MSI 2024. If Fnatic win this series, this will mark the first time the organization qualifies for MSI since 2018 - 7 years ago.

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Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games