Aleksib analyzed Natus Vincere‘s rough start to the season after their loss to Legacy at Esports World Cup 2026. The captain pointed to mental preparedness as the key issue, noting communication breakdowns in crucial moments.

NAVI entered the season without participating in BLAST Bounty, making Esports World Cup their first major event. Despite winning two trophies at the end of the previous season, the team struggled with confidence and rhythm. Aleksib mentioned that they lost both starting halves 10:2, highlighting Legacy’s superior mental preparation in small details.

Aleksib remains optimistic, stating that it’s too early to draw conclusions. The team worked on fundamentals during bootcamp and aims to compete for a third trophy this season. He also addressed rumors of potential roster changes and compared their situation to Spirit’s comeback after a poor start.

Performance coach Ula left NAVI for Astralis, but her work left useful foundations. The team has a new performance coach but continues using Ula’s methods. NAVI has been practicing on Cache but hasn’t played an official match on it yet. Their next opponent is M80, and Aleksib expects a tough match, warning against underestimating the opponent.

“Many issues came down to our mental state. In crucial moments, we communicated our actions incorrectly, even when we had strong positions,” Aleksib said.

“Right now, it’s too early to make conclusions. We worked a lot on fundamental aspects during bootcamp,” Aleksib said.

“We can’t just show up at a tournament and say: ‘We’ll win this.’ We need to set specific goals – first, advance deep into the playoffs, then fight for the trophy,” Aleksib said.