Peanut, who played for ROX and T1 teams, reached the peak of his career, but his form after joining Gen was somewhat sluggish. After moving to the LPL, Peanut returned to the LCK division and returned to the Gen team in the middle of the winter transfer period. His teammate Doran had previously made it to the World Championships while on the GRF team, but he didn't have the chance to play. Now that the two have met at Gen, what are their thoughts on the new season?
Recently, Korean media conducted interviews with Penut and Doran (the following is part of the interview):
Interview: What were your thoughts when you heard that the two of you were going to be interviewed together?
Peanut: I thought we were closer, but it doesn't seem like Doran thinks so (laughs).
Doran: I also want to be closer to Peanut, but sometimes it feels stressful to be with him... But I feel fine.
Peanut: Have I ever made you feel stressed? However, some of Doran's habits do have to be changed. I just told him not to eat too many snacks.
Interview: Now that you're together with your old teammates again, do you think it's better to partner with your old teammates than to join a whole new team?
Peanut: The GRF trio (Doran, Chovy, Lehends) worked really well together, including Ruler and me, and we've got a good run-in, so we're working together as a team.
INTERVIEW: How did you get back to Gen?
Peanut: I came back through trading, so I didn't know what the lineup would be like. I just hope everything goes well, but when my team-mate lineup is better than I'd liked, it's more satisfying for me.
Interview: You weren't in a good state at Gen before, is there any difference between you now and you were then?
Peanut: When I talk to friends, I sometimes talk about 2019. I did get down at the time, but I didn't really know how to adjust. Later I went to LPL and finally helped me break through myself. In China, everything is different. In that atmosphere, you don't hesitate to try something new, and when the LPL is doing well, the coach will say: Don't be afraid to die, keep trying. When I played in the LPL, the whole team was positive and open-minded, so I was comfortable playing and felt like I could really operate. While we talked about some of the mistakes that occurred in the game in the post-match feedback, we focused more on how to maximize our strengths to achieve our tactical plan. Obviously I was lucky that LGD's teammates had good personalities.
Interview: I heard that when you were in the LPL, you were closer to Khan, what do you think about his retirement?
Peanut: We talked a lot when we were in the LPL, and we talked a lot last year. When he said he was retiring, I didn't have too many mood swings. But when I saw the World Final BO5, I still felt a little sad. Watching them give an interview in a relaxed and cheerful mood during a post-match press conference makes me feel even more uncomfortable. Khan is a guy with a good mindset and a very competitive mindset. It is precisely because I know his temper that seeing him so calmly giving an interview makes me feel a little choked up. I was thinking, if I had lost this final, I wouldn't have been able to be interviewed like he did.
Interview: You met Chovy and Lehends again, did you talk about playing together again?
Doran: When we parted ways at GRF, we did say that there was a chance to play together again. But we didn't agree on this transfer period, but we got back together. Chovy and Lehends have always been great players and it would feel comfortable to play with them.
Interview: What about Tarzan? He and Viper both performed well at the World Championships, is there anything you would like to say?
Doran: I want to congratulate them on their wonderful performance on the world stage, but at the same time I really envy them.
Interview: Many fans say that Gen is now the strongest team in the new season, what do you think:
Doran: It's too early to make a judgment because the other teams are also preparing. We only played 10 days of training, so more training is needed to be sure.
Peanut: Since we have Doran on the team, our lineup is fantastic (laughs). I think the strongest evaluation of the new season is half right and half wrong. Because all the LCK teams are strong, not just Gen.
Interview: What was the biggest regret of last season? What problems do you want to solve at Gen?
Peanut: I think it's not just me, all the pros are the same. My biggest regret for myself is the result, and this time I want to achieve better results.
Doran: In the 2021 season, regardless of the results, I was considered a very good singles player. Unfortunately, there are still some aspects where I am still inadequate. I think I'm doing well in line and team battles, but I'm not good enough at the details. I think I should show something more in the new season.
Interview: Do you have anything to say about Gen fans in 2022?
Peanut: I know people are looking forward to our performance, and we're going to work harder to live up to your expectations. I will also try to prepare for the race, there is pressure is good, but if the pressure is too much, it may have a negative impact. Because we're playing with professionals, we might lose a few games, and I hope that in those moments, people will be a little more accommodating and friendly to us, and I think we'll perform better in this environment.
Doran: I think our team will attract a lot of attention in the new season and I will do my best to try to give back to everyone.