Fnatic's Milan Breaks Down VCT Struggles: 'We're Scaling Into Form'
Fnatic's Nerve-Wracking Victory Raises Questions Ahead of VCT EMEA 2026
Fnatic's head coach Milan "Milan" De Meij offered a candid assessment of his team's shaky 2-1 victory over FUT Esports in the VCT EMEA Kickoff tournament, revealing structural challenges that could impact their performance in upcoming matches.
The Corrode Collapse: A Pattern Emerging?
After establishing a dominant 10-2 lead on Corrode, Fnatic nearly imploded against FUT Esports - mirroring their earlier loss to Ascension champions BBL Esports where they squandered a 9-3 advantage. Milan admitted this recurring pattern is his primary concern:
"We should close it out. There were so many opportunities... It's the second time now where we start really good and then drop off. That's something we need to look at what causes those changes."
This volatility creates significant betting implications. While Fnatic remains favored (-185 ML vs FUT), their inability to close matches cleanly makes handicap betting (+1.5 maps for underdogs) increasingly attractive against top-tier opposition.
Leadership Shifts and Emotional Growth
Notably, Milan highlighted Alfajer's emergence as an emotional anchor:
"Alfajer has stepped up emotionally and is leading by example."
This development could prove crucial for bettors evaluating Fnatic's mental resilience. With new French addition Sylvain "Veqaj" Pattyn still integrating ("a very good player" per Milan), Fnatic's team synergy currently sits at 3.45 odds to win VCT EMEA - lower than pre-season projections.
Betting Outlook: Fixes Needed Before Masters
Milan identified three critical focus areas before their next match:
- Emotional regulation during momentum shifts
- Technical execution under pressure
- Stabilizing matchday identity
Bettors should monitor whether Fnatic addresses these issues in their upcoming match against Karmine Corp (projected -240 favorites). A clean victory would boost confidence in their championship potential, while another shaky performance could signal value in opposing futures bets.
The Road Ahead: Can Fnatic Stabilize?
Despite concerns, Milan remains optimistic about Fnatic's trajectory:
"We had a super busy offseason, and I'm pretty happy with how we're scaling into things... There's a lot of room for us to grow."
With Masters Shanghai qualifying spots on the line, Fnatic's ability to convert dominant starts into clean victories will determine whether they justify their 4.75 odds to win Champions 2026 - or become prime candidates for upset alerts.