Man City’s Tekkz and Bonanno jubilant after defending ePremier League title

Man City maintained their dominance over the ePremier League, winning an extremely close final on Sunday, March 23. They faced off against Brighton & Hove Albion, who were also the side they faced last year.

While the opponent and the outcome were the same as least year, the final played out very differently. Man City found themselves down after the first game. It took an inspired comeback from Argentine Bonanno in the second game to secure a back to back title for Man City.

This win books both Tekkz and Bonanno into the eChampions League and FC Pro World Finals, both of which take place later this year.

esports.gg spoke to Tekkz and Bonanno after their dramatic comeback win at the ePremier League finals in London.

Both Tekkz and Bonanno were visibly delighted at defending their title. For Tekkz, it was a unusual experience having lost his final game and needing to rely soely on his teammate to pull through.

Tekkz: "It feels great! Especially the circumstances. Last year it was so good to win in the 118th minute extra time. This year, I got carried in the final. I lost 4-2 and he brought it back to win. He won his game by three goals. It's one of the best feelings getting carried. I quite like this, so thank you!"

Bonanno: "I feel incredible that we went back to back. The season for me was bad in the beginning and maybe people didn't trust in me. But I always trust in myself and now I can show it."

There was a lot of pressure on Bonanno in particular at this event. His poor start to the season meant that Man City winning the ePremier League was his only remaining route to the eChampions League and FC Pro World Finals.

Bonanno: "In the final I felt confident because I had just beat ManuBachoore 6-2. So I felt like I could do it, I felt good. I knew I could beat him because I practice with him a lot, so I felt really confident."

When asked if victory was ever in doubt, Bonanno had a simple reply. "No."

Notable during the second leg of the finals was the passion coming from the Man City team. Bonanno was as loud as we have ever seen, with the usually calm Tekkz also celebrating every goal, rueing every miss and seemingly on the edge of his seat for the entire match.

Tekkz: "[I am usually less outwardly passionate] because usually I go into the second leg and I've won the first game. So I'm just chilling. I did my job. But then it's the first time, I think the first time ever, I gave my teammate a deficit. It was two goals. So then it's , well if we lose it's my fault. It was right, we're all in."

Tekkz was surprised to lose his leg against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Tekkz: "Me and Jaydon practice all the time. Every time I beat him, like, four or five one. So, going into it, I was like, yeah, I want to smack him. I want to destroy him. Game starts, he scores two minutes in. After that it was a weird one. And coming from the semi-final I was just keeping the ball in that game. So I think it is hard to switch from keeping the ball to playing normal again. But we won, so I don't care!"

Bonanno reveals that he changes all sorts of settings when he wants to shake off a poor performance. This seemed to work, as he hit his absolute best form as the event progressed.

Bonanno: "My first match was terrible for me and my confidence. So I said, I can't play worse than this! I changed the camera, I changed my tactics and I did a lot more manual shooting."

Like we saw from Tekkz, Bonanno was also as fired up as we have ever seen him. He feels that when he pumps himself up like that, it makes a big difference to his performance.

Bonanno: "When I feel normal, sometimes its good, but not incredible in game. Today I felt bad in game, so I need to reset my mind. It's all mentality, I don't believe it's gameplay you know. The last two matches I played so good, but I think it's because of the mentality, it's not my gameplay!"

Man City are hugely invested in FC esports and the ePremier League. Across the 20-team competition, which features every Premier League club, there are varying levels of involvement and investment. Manchester City had a significant support staff with them at the event. Both players have their own dedicated coach and the club advertise their team and their successes across their various platforms.

Both players strongly felt that this level of support hugely improves their performance at events.

Tekkz: "It's a massive boost. I think everyone trusts everyone and that's the main thing. You've got a lot of support behind the scenes, so if someone's having a bad day, for example, first game for Matty went really bad. Then there's about four or five people behind the scenes to help him get out of that.

"I think me and Matty have got a trust now where, for example, maybe Liverpool in the semi-final, 'Manu' who's 1 down and he's like, oh, I need to get it back rather than trusting his teammates that he can actually draw it back from a 2-3 goal lead. I'm playing that final there, I'm getting battered, I'm 4-2 down, I just look at myself and think, you know what, I've got to keep this at a 4-2 loss so he has a chance rather than try and get it back myself."

Man City's ePremier League champions Tekkz and Bonanno will head from London to prepare for the eChampions League. That competition is expected to take place later this Spring, after all partner leagues have concluded.

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