In the first playoff match of EPL S24 that just ended, Aurora defeated 1WIN 2-0 to advance to the semifinals. After the match, kyxsan gave an interview to on-site media, responding to NiKo's previous negative comments about him.
Q: Okay, kyxsan, congratulations. How did your first arena match with this team feel?
kyxsan: It feels great. I'd say it was a tough match. Maybe the opponents are not at the highest level. I don't mean to disrespect them, but they're not on the level of teams like Spirit and Vitality, but it was still difficult, I could feel we were a bit nervous, I don't think we played our best, but we did enough to beat them.
Q: How does it feel to enter today's match as the favorites? Will this really help you against stronger teams tomorrow?
kyxsan: It feels different as the favorites because there's more pressure, you expect yourself to win. I don't know yet who we'll face tomorrow, but if it's Vitality, I think in some way the match will be easier because we're not the favorites. I think the pressure will be on them, but it will still be a very tough match because they are still the best team in the world.
Q: You've been with this team for a few months now, do you feel that integrating your system into what was already in place has really started to go smoothly?
kyxsan: Yes, of course. I think we've made great progress, and now with more time, I'm able to implement the style I want to play. I think everyone likes the way we play now, everyone feels comfortable at the moment, so it's just about keeping it up and upgrading and evolving it to some extent.
Q: How is working with ash going? How different are your ways of looking at the game? Is it going well?
kyxsan: ash really surprised me. I think the chemistry between us is really good. He's done a really good job preparing the team. He does a lot in-game, mainly on the CT side, but he also gives me some advice on the T side. And he's also really good at bringing the team together and making sure we have a good mindset in these important matches.
Q: Tell me about this mindset, because this has always been a big issue for Aurora, and it feels like it's improving now. How do you feel?
kyxsan: I'd say this is still a small issue. There are still some matches where I'd say our mindset wasn't the best, but I can also say it's much better compared to two months ago. This is something we work on every day, and I'd say, yes, we should keep working to improve, because I think this might be one of the things that sometimes stops us from playing better.
Q: XANTARES, especially woxic, when you film team content for social media, there are still sometimes those moments when they tilt. How do you change such experienced players? Is it possible to change mindset so late in their careers?
kyxsan: I think maybe. Maybe XANTARES is a bit older than the others, but he still loves the game very much. He cares, and tries to do everything to improve. He plays a lot, and we're working together to find a method that works for everyone, and I think he's happy to work hard on these things and improve.
Q: Okay. Last question, I want to ask you about NiKo's remarks, he basically said something about [handling] feedback. I don't know if you've seen those comments. Have you?
kyxsan: I saw some.
Q: Do you think that's fair? Have you brought what you learned at Falcons into [how you lead] this team, such as feedback from the team, feedback from the coaches, and the like?
kyxsan: I think what he said is unfair, because maybe what he said is true, but that's for the last month or two. But he didn't mention the first year and everything that happened in the first year, so I think it's a bit taken out of context, because that's not the full picture of what happened with Falcons at the time.
But I don't really mind. I'm always open to feedback, and you know, I've been with Falcons, and I'm here too. When you play with so many experienced, great players, you can learn something from everyone, so I'm happy to learn from all my former and current teammates and keep improving.
(NiKo expressed dissatisfaction with kyxsan in a previous interview, saying he had a bad attitude toward other players and lacked the self-sacrificing spirit of karrigan, failing to make his teammates play more comfortably.)