Look Sports Media – Jakob "YamatoCannon" Mebdi, the esteemed head coach of Los Ratones, is riding a wave of elation following his team’s pivotal first victories in the LEC Versus season. After enduring a challenging winless streak, the squad, spearheaded by British streamer Marc "Caedrel" Lamont, staged a remarkable resurgence, securing two crucial wins that have ignited their playoff hopes.
The initial breakthrough arrived against Team Heretics, a victory so emotionally charged that it brought Caedrel to tears on his live stream. This was swiftly followed by a dramatic comeback triumph over Shifters, doubling their win tally and injecting much-needed confidence into the roster. Post-match, a visibly delighted YamatoCannon shared his relief with his audience, proclaiming, "The Los Ratones magic is finally coming back to us."
These two impressive performances are nothing short of monumental for the guest ERL team, which many analysts had prematurely written off as destined for a winless season. Mebdi underscored the immense psychological burden of an 0-5 record versus the morale boost of even a single victory, stating, "Imagine a world with the pressure of being 0-5, instead of 1-4 and knowing you can win." He elaborated on the Heretics fixture’s critical nature, describing it as a "cutoff point" that would largely determine their playoff aspirations given the demanding schedule.
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The shift in player mentality was evident in their subsequent performance. YamatoCannon lauded his squad’s unwavering composure during the Shifters match, noting that "regardless of the game state, the tone of everything remained the same." He further observed, "We looked for opportunities; everyone was on the same page about what to do in the game. There were no signs of any stress or emotion. I really feel like the Los Ratones DNA really kicked in." Reflecting on their sole loss against GIANTX, Mebdi simply commended their opponent’s superior preparation, acknowledging their strategic stranglehold on the draft with a potent Sejuani-Yone combination against Los Ratones’ Azir.
Unveiling Practice Struggles and a Path Forward
In a candid revelation, YamatoCannon disclosed the severe practice challenges Los Ratones faced last week. Their dismal start left them with virtually no scrim partners, save for Karmine Corp Blue. This unexpected constraint, however, also offered an opportunity for "a fresh perspective" and "a little bit more introspective" analysis. The tide has since turned, with Mebdi proudly announcing a "more plump and filled out" scrim schedule for the upcoming week, asserting that "teams are going give us the respect we deserve."
The coach further highlighted the inherent difficulties posed by the League of Legends 2026 season’s meta, which he believes doesn’t naturally favor Los Ratones. The current "snowbally" nature of the game makes reaching their preferred late-game team fights, where the team traditionally excels, significantly more arduous. Mebdi elaborated that while Los Ratones’ individual prowess and clean team fighting often compensated for deficiencies in previous seasons, the current meta demands unprecedented synergy. He emphasized, "how we connect, how jungle support plays together, how we play around mid lane, all these details have just become super important, and I’m happy to see the fruits of their labour."
To address these evolving demands, mid-laner Tim "Nemesis" Lipovšek and jungler Veljko "Velja" Čamdžić have been diligently duo-queueing to forge stronger synergy. Additionally, support Martin "Rekkles" Larsson has been working closely with the duo, ensuring the entire unit operates as a cohesive force.
Navigating the Gauntlet: Week 3 Preview
As Los Ratones head into Week 3, their playoff aspirations remain alive, with a top-eight finish still within reach. However, YamatoCannon anticipates their "toughest week" yet, featuring formidable opponents in G2 Esports, Movistar KOI, and Natus Vincere.
Analyzing their upcoming adversaries, Mebdi suggested G2 Esports is "trying to figure out how to draft with the new meta," attributing their surprisingly slow start to this adaptation phase. He acknowledged Movistar KOI’s "dynamic" jungle-support synergy but noted their solo laners’ "wild" tendencies, concluding that "everything can happen in Bo1s."
YamatoCannon reserved his highest praise for NAVI’s coaching staff, particularly "The Rock," acknowledging their "very clear identity" and asserting that "the sum of their parts is stronger than the individuals right now, and that’s a very good place to be. Props to whoever is working really hard to put the team play together."
Despite the daunting schedule, YamatoCannon remains confident, affirming that these are precisely the challenges his players have been rigorously preparing for, especially given the condensed nature of the Winter Split and Los Ratones’ temporary LEC guest slot. The journey for Los Ratones is far from over, and their recent resurgence suggests they are ready to fight for every inch.
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