Following Wildcard's victory over Chicken Coop at FML 2026, team captain Nemanja "nEMANHA" Đukić sat down to discuss the squad's recent changes and tournament aspirations.
The Serbian leader acknowledged his team needed the confidence boost after a string of disappointing results. Earlier that day, Wildcard fell 0-2 to NRG in their opening match, hampered by technical difficulties including PC issues and overly bright stage lighting. Despite these setbacks, nEMANHA remained focused on the team's bigger picture.
The most significant talking point was Wildcard's decision to replace their AWPer. When asked about parting ways with mhL, nEMANHA explained it was a collective decision involving the entire team and management. He emphasized there was no animosity, simply a lack of chemistry. For the departing player, his advice was straightforward: work hard and keep pushing forward, noting mhL's youth means opportunities will come.
Sebastian "fr3nd" Kuśmierz stepped in as the new primary AWPer, bringing familiarity with the Wildcard organization through his time with their Academy team and previous Wildcard rosters. Though he hadn't worked directly with nEMANHA before, the IGL praised fr3nd's vocal presence and mid-round calling contributions. The challenge? Minimal practice time before the event.
Wildcard's season has shown a clear pattern: success at tier-two events like Fragadelphia contrasts sharply with struggles at premier tournaments. NEMANHA attributed this inconsistency to insufficient official matches and resulting confidence issues. He believes more competitive play will bridge that gap.
Looking ahead to their next matchup against either NRG or Liquid, the IGL showed no preference. His philosophy remains simple: focus on their own gameplay, start matches with confidence, and punish opponent aggression. With the PGL Singapore Major qualification on the line, Wildcard hopes their roster refresh provides the spark needed to reach new heights.
