[MCSL] Interview: SlayerS Coaches Cella and Ryu

Shiro: First off, thanks for taking the time for this interview. Most Western teams don't have a coach, so as the coach for SlayerS, what sort of day-to-day responsibilities do you have?

Cella: I plan for daily practice schedules and practice methods. I also analyze other team players’ replays and VODs.

Ryu: I make sure that the players are following their daily schedule and watch GSL/GSTL games. We also check opponent players’ VODs and replays to analyze their style, habit, weakness, and mental aspect, then discuss with our players to decide on builds. During free time, I play starcraft 2 on the ladder and study strategies. When Jessica tells that she wants to play team games, then I stop everything I had been doing to go play team games.

Shiro: You've had many non-SlayerS players come and stay with you - such as EG's HuK, IdrA, PuMa, and JYP, as well as Mousesports' ThorZaIN. How do these new players fit into the established team practice? In particular, how are the foreign players embraced despite the language barrier?

Cella: Our team has emphasized English from the beginning, and we’ve told our players not to be afraid to speak English to get their points across. Our players are friendly and sometimes they use body language to communicate as well, so the language barrier hasn’t been a big issue for us.

Ryu: Thorzain was here before I joined SlayerS, so I don’t know abut him. HuK mostly practiced on ladder. JYP just joined us, so I don’t know much about him yet. PuMa and IdrA practice on the ladder and also participate in in-house leagues. The language barrier is not too bad because we have Cella. Our player also use body language to communicate. IdrA works out with Puzzle and is Puzzle’s trainer :D Our players are waiting for IdrA to return to Korea. I would say that the foreign players are adjusting pretty well.