Eintracht Spandau is the LoL team of HandOfBlood and his agency INSTINCT3. MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch spoke with Christian “nRated” Seitz, the coach of the team. They discussed a typical daily routine, the composition of the team, and his general view on the development of e-sports in LoL.
What exactly is Eintracht Spandau? At the end of 2021, HandOfBlood announced his entry into the highest German league in LoL, the Strauss Prime League. He himself takes on the role of president, leading his team in an eccentric manner.
The first part of the season, the Spring Split, ultimately went very well for the team after a difficult start. They secured second place in the league and later also second place in the playoffs.
We at MeinMMO have now talked with the head coach of Eintracht Spandau. He provided some interesting insights behind the scenes of the team and into the daily life of a coach.
Since 2019, he has been working as a coach and has previously managed the second team of Rogue and Schalke 04 Evolution.
“I’m no longer active but watch a lot of games”
MeinMMO: Hello nRated and thank you for this interview. Since 2019, you have primarily been working as a coach in League of Legends. How does one imagine life as a coach?
nRated: A normal day for me is relatively uneventful. I wake up between 9 and 10 am, check what tasks are pending. Depending on that, I shower, have breakfast, and while doing so, I might watch games from the LCK [Korea] and LPL [China] to prepare for the training matches.
Which drafts should be played and why, what exactly are the training contents I want to convey, and how do I want to convey these. If I have preparations or planning, I usually tackle these early in the day as well. This includes bookings for training matches, possibly interviews, and presenting statistics effectively.
MeinMMO: How important is it to still play LoL actively as a coach and how actively and successfully do you still play?
nRated: This probably varies for every coach. I no longer play actively much; instead, I watch a lot of other regions and competitive games and draw conclusions from them. But I’ve been active for over 10 years and have gone through many different game changes, so it’s easier to draw conclusions and formulate theses that need proving.
Essentially, it’s beneficial for many coaches to actively play LoL, but I’m very ambitious about it. Either I focus on my own game, or I try to recognize and work on things for my players. Therefore, I am currently at a point where I play little but analyze a lot and pass on those conclusions.
“I was given free rein in selecting the team”
MeinMMO: Your journey has now brought you to Eintracht Spandau, currently the most interesting team in the German LoL scene. How exactly did you end up with this team?
nRated: At the time when I first heard the rumor, I was still actively with Schalke 04 as head coach and knew Max [HandOfBlood], Hendrik Ruhe, and Johannes Gorzel from earlier when they were still working at Freaks 4U Gaming. I was involved in the beginnings of their work and was partly involved in some videos and also in the analysis of the Worlds.
Initially, I first inquired whether there was any truth to the rumors and from there got into conversation. Unfortunately, we hadn’t had significant overlaps in the past since I was more involved in competitive e-sports and they had made a name for themselves more as commentators and influencers.
Eintracht Spandau was the first project where both aspects merged, and the vision behind it felt tailor-made for me. Following that, there were several intensive discussions in the application process, and the rest is history.
MeinMMO: How much influence did you have on the composition of the team?
nRated: I was primarily responsible for selecting the team; Kevin Westphal, our sports management, gave me free rein, for which I am also grateful. In the past, the teams’ rosters were usually already set, and I, as a coach, only joined later. However, here we worked together and assembled a roster according to my ideas.
We had a longer tryout phase to find the right players with the right mindset, but everything was based on my guidelines and requirements.
My primary goal was to assemble a team that could function without extreme egos. Initially, this was because a team’s progress regarding the EU Masters requires a lot of critique and growth.
On the other hand, it’s also about finding compatible players to generally enable a team structure where everyone wants to work with everyone, brings the same potential, and can also develop it.
“I wouldn’t be with Eintracht Spandau if it were just a marketing stunt”
MeinMMO: Hand on heart: Did you expect to finish second and qualify directly for the EU Masters before the start of the Spring Split? Or did you initially dismiss that as a dream of HandOfBlood and his team?
nRated: The management clearly communicated to us that we should aim for the upper mid-field in our first split, but internally it was a bit different.
My statement was that with this roster, we should come in the Top 3. I saw that as a direct goal for us. If it had been just a marketing stunt, I wouldn’t have been involved. However, I had known from earlier times that it was a dream of Max to build a prestigious e-sport organization of his own. Now, as a traditional club, we are definitely very ambitious.
The general internal goal of the team was from the beginning to qualify for the EU Masters and to improve as much as possible. We were convinced we could do it. Initially, it was more about gaining as much as possible in the first split and then, at the latest, attacking directly in the summer. Now just before the EU Masters, I can say that I see significant potential in my team.
As the groups are now set, I think we can make it out of the group phase and reach the quarter-finals, semi-finals, or even the finals.
The EU Masters are not a sprint but a marathon, and we want to gain as much experience as we can to also play strongly together as a team in the next split.
You can see an insight into the world of Eintracht Spandau and their first split in the Prime League in this video:
MeinMMO: What do you think is the special attraction of Eintracht Spandau that is resulting in this huge hype?
nRated: The authenticity, nothing is staged here. We feel and live the hype we convey and are personally excited to play under this banner. The fans are a gift! I believe I have never experienced such club-like fan structures in an e-sports organization. The extent to which this is taking shape surprises again and again.
Initially, it was planned for an ultra fan club, and now there are well over 20, who organize themselves independently of our club, host events, and support us with incredible enthusiasm. Especially after a 0-3 final, that’s really not something to be taken for granted, but they give us strength and stand behind us, come what may.
At this point, a huge compliment and big thanks to the community and the ultras!
“We underestimated GamerLegion, but will definitely make it to the quarter-finals of the EU Masters”
MeinMMO: After a strong second half and a good start in the playoffs, you eventually lost to GamerLegion in the grand final. How are you dealing with the defeat, and what have you learned for the upcoming EU Masters?
nRated: The defeat against GamerLegion was attributed to several factors. In the week or two leading up to it, we had extremely poor training, where we continuously threw away games individually. That comes back to haunt you.
Moreover, we beat GL 3-0 in the upper bracket final, which led us to underestimate them.
In retrospect, this will help us now regarding the EU Masters. I can clearly feel the change in training since then; on an individual level, we have more determination and want to make up for it and play even stronger.
MeinMMO: How realistic do you see your chances at the EU Masters? After all, strong teams from France and Spain are also joining.
nRated: We will definitely make it to the quarter-finals! Everything beyond that will depend on luck in the draw, but I am confident that we can hold our own against most teams.
What matters is how much we will improve through the groups up to that point, but so far my guys are taking a lot from this and getting consistently better.
I think France should not be underestimated, but the difference between Spanish teams and those from our league is minimal to non-existent. The hype generated before the season probably wasn’t justified.
First, the groups need to be considered, but four teams from the French LFL, three from the Prime League, and only two teams from the Spanish LVP already speak volumes. I’m curious to see who will prevail, but we will most likely not see a purely French final.
“At Schalke, I was more isolated than connected with the club”
MeinMMO: You were also part of the coaching staff of Schalke 04 Evolution for a while. Schalke 04 is, after all, an established football club. Were there differences in the structure and setup of the team, especially compared to classic e-sports organizations?
nRated: At Schalke, I was quite self-reliant and trained the team independently. So from my perspective, no. However, when it came to the LEC team, there was the gaming house and several coaches, which, from the structure, did not differ fundamentally from other organizations.
In general, Schalke has since made a switch, where the team in the Prime League is now much closer and more integrated with the club. Therefore, I would say that there should have been some changes since then.
But at the time when I was a coach there, it was entirely different; we were more isolated than directly connected with the club.
“Everything is more professional, but the lack of promotion takes competition and class out of the game”
MeinMMO: You have been active in e-sports in LoL since 2010, and you have played for SK Gaming and Fnatic. How do you remember your time as an active player? What were the biggest highlights for you?
nRated: Back then, nobody had in mind that e-sports could actually become a career option. I kind of grew into it and professionalized along with the scene. Generally, I have had many good and bad experiences and have taken a lot for myself.
The best time was when we, with Fnatic – Soaz, Cyanide, xPeke, Rekkles – had a boot camp in Sweden for the Dreamhack and decided at short notice to step in for a team at IPL5, which took place in Las Vegas.
At the Dreamhack, we played in the final against CLG EU, who were at that time one of the best teams in the world, and we dominated them. Then participating in Las Vegas against the reigning world champions, TPA, and receiving 2-3 respect bans against me was a damn good feeling!
A video of the match between CLG and Fnatic has been included here:
When you compare e-sports in LoL today with that of 12 years ago, what are the biggest differences? What has developed particularly positively and what perhaps negatively?
nRated: I think the structures had to be built first. Nowadays, everything is much more professional. Players have higher expectations and must meet higher standards. Moreover, there were no coaches back then, although I have to say that Riot is pushing for them, yet it does not mean that there is enough competent staff to fill those roles.
The biggest and most significant difference from then to now is the franchise system, which grants licenses for slots to teams. In my active time as a player, one always had to fight for relegation. Therefore, the difference between the best team in the league and the worst was closer together, and one had to remain competitive.
Not having the option for promotion from a lower league as an emerging team takes away a lot of competition and direct class from the game.
MeinMMO: Thank you for the conversation nRated and best of luck to Eintracht Spandau at the EU Masters!
You can find more about Eintracht Spandau’s season in this article:
LoL team of HandOfBlood loses the big spring final – struggling with bad luck and mishaps
