Larssen: “It would be nice to have a good start for once… we like a challenge”

LoL Esports

August 19, 2024

Lee Jones

Back-to-back ninth-place finishes for Rogue this season mean that a strong summer is needed if they’re to have any chance at salvaging the year. But a 1-2 start to the 2024 LEC Summer split means that they have a mountain to climb. Mid laner Emil “Larssen” Larsson is their best chance to lead a comeback. He’s arguably amongst the best players in the league and getting him to re-sign to a lengthy four-year deal — currently the only one of its kind in the LEC — was a coup for Rogue.

We spoke to the Swede after the disappointing opening week was capped off by defeat to Karmine Corp, after which his dejection was visible despite still giving words of hope in redeeming the season.

What are your general thoughts on the 1-2 start?

Larssen: Yeah, I’m definitely not happy. I mean, I guess it could be worse, we have done worse starts. But going into today I was really hoping that we get a 2-1 and then we’re in a really good spot.

But yeah, we f***** up the game today, sadly. So now we’re still in a stressful spot like we’ve been every split.

It would be nice to have a good start for once, but yeah, we like a challenge, I guess.

Image credit: Riot Games

What do you think is going wrong at the moment?

Lee: Because even in the losses it seemed like Rogue was definitely still in the game at times.

Larssen: We’re just making small mistakes that are like on stage [mistakes]. Especially in the game today we were getting very out-skilled, so we can’t make those mistakes. We need to keep snowballing correctly, otherwise we just get out-skilled and then it’s hard. I don’t know, it’s just we haven’t played that well this year. So like, we’re just making some mistakes that make the game hard to play.

Lee: At the start of the year, you told me that you want to feel like Rogue is playing as a team and not as individuals in order to improve upon 2023.

Do you think that’s still an issue?

Larssen: I feel like we’re playing as a team. We’re not playing well enough as a team, but I don’t feel like we’re playing like individuals. I definitely don’t feel like it. I like the team a lot, and I really hope we have some good weeks so we can continue our year and work towards the top three in playoffs, which is what we need.

Are you still confident you can turn things around then?

Larssen: Yeah. For sure. For sure. I’m definitely very confident that we can get top three. It’s going to be hard, but I think it’s very, very possible. We have a lot of close games, and if it gets a little bit better, I think we can easily win a lot more games. So definitely still have high hopes.

Are you satisfied then with the overall trajectory of the team?

Larssen: No, I’m definitely not. Definitely not satisfied with our trajectory. Yeah, I mean, that’s also why I’m tilted. It is not really the start I was envisioning. But, yeah, it’s gonna be a challenge, but we knew that already.

Finally, as a Manchester United fan, are you currently ten Hag-in or ten Hag-out?

Larssen: Definitely ten Hag-in. I’m very frustrated that it’s taking so long for INEOS to confirm that he’s in. It’s like, he has done a very good job. I think it’s a very hard task. You’ve seen all the managers since Sir Alex, so I definitely think he should be in. That’s a bit disrespectful that it’s taking so long for him to be confirmed in.

It is a topic that’s on my mind sometimes, not gonna lie.

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