VIT PAL reflected on the team’s overall performance against FNATIC, Sayonara’s Tier 1 debut, the 2027 season, and his IGL’s bee cosplay.
Gregor “PAL” Morton joined Team Vitality (VIT) ahead of the 2026 season, aiming to get the team back on track after a year that included their first regional title but fell short on the international stage. In response, Vitality underwent significant changes to both its coaching staff and roster.
Now leading what many consider a “superteam,” PAL is focused on helping VIT reach new heights. In an interview with esports.gg following their tough loss to FNATIC, the head coach reflected on the team’s performance, Sayonara’s long-awaited debut and preparation, the recent 2027 season announcements, and even his in-game leader’s bee cosplay.
VIT PAL on the team’s loss against FNATIC
Previous results had already placed Team Vitality in a difficult position. Across eight encounters, the Bees have yet to secure a single victory against Fnatic. However, according to coach PAL, the focus remains firmly on the present. In their match at VCT EMEA 2026: Stage 1, the team showed moments of promise, but ultimately lacked the composure and decisiveness needed to turn the game in their favor.
“We actually dominated the matches early on, but we let things run out of our control,” PAL explained. “They had some good adaptations, but realistically, it was more just that calmness and that being able to keep control of the game and of ourselves more than anything else. On defense, we lost ourselves a little bit. We came with new ideas when what we needed was to stick with our main ideas, and maybe that would have been sufficient.”
For the Bees’ head coach, time was also a factor against them. “We need more time as a core to know exactly what to do in those situations, but first, you need to get through them as a group. That’s something that Fnatic have, and they are, to be honest, fantastic at with that core,” he added. “I dare to say the next time or the time after we get back into those situations, we’ll be absolutely fine.”
While both maps were close (13-11; 13-10), Team Vitality was unable to get a victory on the series against Fnatic, going home with a 0-2 defeat.
Sayonara’s debut and preparation
The debut of Ștefan “Sayonara” Mîtcu was among the most highly anticipated in recent years. At just 18, he finally stepped onto the stage with Team Vitality, ready to showcase the firepower he had already demonstrated in European ranked play. For Coach PAL, his seamless integration into the team has been especially rewarding to witness.
“I think there’s so much that Sayonara is capable of. We just haven’t shown until today the double duelist out of him,” he said. “He is a young player coming into the league, picking up that second entry role where he can play off of Derke’s space on the attack side and be free to do whatever he wants on defense as well. He’s brilliant at taking fights to people, and I’m super confident in him. I’m looking forward to seeing more of that from him.”
Sayonara is known for being a very versatile player, with a wide agent pool and the ability to play different roles. He’s comfortable using both rifles and the operator, making him a reliable option in many situations. “That’s the attraction about him in the first place because he gives us a lot of options. As you said, he opens every window for us to explore,” VIT PAL commented. “It’s just up to the rest of us to make the most of it and see the results of those explorations.”
While Sayonara still couldn’t compete due to the age restrictions, the work kept going backstage. “He came to pretty much all games during Kickoff, and he was seeing what that preparation process was like. We have already spent a huge amount of time in the off-season practicing with him,” PAL added.
VIT PAL on the 2027 season: “We still need more details.”
There is still a lot unknown about the recent announcements for the 2027 season, which is why VIT coach PAL is waiting for more details. “I think it’s a good thing that the best teams get to face each other, as it helps them prove themselves and push for major international events, which ultimately is what Valorant esports is all about,” he stated. “I won’t comment too much until we hear about the details, but I think there are also clear negatives at the same time, such as the nature of the system. A lot of how significant those negatives are comes down to the details of the implementation, not only at the global level, but also in the EMEA.”
At the same time, the head coach recognizes that there are going to be many high-stakes matches and upsets. “VALORANT is not a game where you are consistently successful. No team in history has really been the top dogs for more than three, four, five months at best, certainly at an international level,” VIT PAL explained. “I think at a regional level, with the rate that this game has changed, we could also see that same pattern. It’s very hard in an open system to guarantee success. That’s going to have knock-on effects, but there’s going to be lots of opportunities for people to come for the throne in the EMEA, for sure.”
My IGL is cosplaying a bee. Now what?
If, like Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen, your in-game leader is showing up on stage cosplayed as a bee, coach PAL insists it’s not part of any leadership development plan. “No comments,” he laughed. “That was his idea, not mine. Definitely not part of his development as an IGL, but he loves it. He’s a really fun person to be around. And he knew Boaster would be bringing back the muscle suit, so he wanted to one-up him.”
Team Vitality will return to the stage on April 16 to face Eternal Fire. Then, they will play against BBL Esports and PCIFIC Esports.