Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen spoke about NAVI poor form, lack of confidence and the pressure surrounding Major qualification after the team was eliminated from StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026. In a post-match interview with James “BanKs” Banks, the captain admitted that NAVI current level is simply not good enough.
“IT’S JUST NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW”
NAVI left StarSeries Fall after another difficult series, with MOUZ ending their run in the lower bracket. Despite showing positive moments and taking the opening map, Aleksib said the overall situation inside the team remains difficult.
It’s not going good and it’s definitely not feeling good in our camp. We won some pistols, ended up losing two force buys, though, which kind of hurt. It’s just not working right now for us.
The captain felt NAVI had opportunities to take control of the series, particularly after winning the first map and creating chances to close Inferno, but the team could not convert them.
LACK OF CONFIDENCE IS HURTING NAVI
Asked why NAVI can look strong in short stretches but struggle to reproduce that level consistently in official matches, Aleksib pointed to confidence.
He said practice still gives the roster reasons to believe they can perform, but that feeling disappears once official matches begin.
I think it’s lack of confidence and lack of, like, just, you know, how it feels to win because I just feel like we’ve seen red so much. We have glimmers of hope on practice or we feel strong, but when we go to official, it doesn’t feel the same.
According to Aleksib, the problem is not a complete absence of opportunities. NAVI are still reaching positions where they can win maps, but something is not clicking when they need to finish the job.
MAJOR PRESSURE IS GROWING
The poor results also increase the pressure around NAVI position in the Major qualification race.
Aleksib admitted that the team understand exactly how serious the situation has become, but argued that there is little additional pressure that can be added when the current level is already so far below their expectations.
I think it’s pretty hard to add any more pressure. We all know where we are currently and how we’re playing is not good. We are in danger of not doing anything, but to be fair, we don’t even deserve to play on the Major if this is the way we play. So we just need to step up.
For NAVI, the priority is now finding something that can finally create momentum after a run of disappointing results.
ALEKSIB SAYS NAVI DESERVE CRITICISM
Despite continued support from NAVI fans, Aleksib did not try to defend the current performances.
He thanked supporters for staying behind the team but admitted that criticism is justified.
Love you guys for that, but we deserve some criticism. I think it’s just not good enough. And yeah, we need to find something.
NAVI now leave StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 needing to quickly rebuild confidence and form with the Major qualification race becoming increasingly important.
