Hello Marc, hello Sean. As cousins, you definitely haven't played together for the first time at Bayer 04. Do you remember when you sat in front of the games console for the first time?
Marc: That must have been at my father's when we were five or six years old. We all used to live in one house – us, our parents and grandparents. So we've already spent a lot of time with each other. Us two and my brother used to spend the whole weekend playing FIFA and Pro-Evolution Soccer. The loser always had to hand over the controller. (He laughs)
Now you are both professional e-sports players about to start your next season together in the VBL with Bayer 04. Your first match is against Werder Bremen who you lost to a couple of months ago when Bayer 04 were in the final of the VBL CC for the first time. Does that spur you on particularly for tonight's game?
Marc: It's definitely a special match. I did partly get my revenge when I beat Bremen's BerkayLion in the Grand Final (competition for the German individual championship played after the VBL CC, ed.). (He laughs) But, of course, we want to clock up the first win in the team competition.
The season starts a month earlier than usual this year. That means you've had less time to test out the new EA FC edition. How well-prepared do you feel?
Sean: The game came out at the end of September and playing the old edition unfortunately doesn't help much in the pre-season. We’ve noticed the season is starting a bit earlier this time round. But we’ve had enough time to prepare. It's also a bit easier in 1 vs 1 games as you only have to look after yourself. It's a bit more complicated in 2 vs 2 games. During the busiest phase of the pre-season we were sat in front of the console for up to eight hours a day so we've played a couple of hundred games.
What differences – positive as well as negative – have you identified in the new EA FC edition?
Marc: In the new edition there are often pressing situations both for the opponents as well as for yourself. That means there is more possession lost on both sides. You have to get used to that.
Sean: I don't think the game is as good. The aspects that were good last year have fortunately been kept but overall I don't like the game and the new VBL mode as much.
Talking about the new mode: There is now one season rather than a Hinrunde and Rückrunde. That means there is only one matchday per week instead of up to three. The matchdays will be played in a best-of-three format as usual with one 2 vs 2 game and two 1 vs 1 one games. What do you think of the changes?
Marc: I thought the old format was better. You prepare yourself for a whole week like last season but then only have one matchday instead of two or three. If you're not on the ball straightaway then you have to wait for the next matchday. If the fixture is decided after the 2 vs 2 and the first 1 vs 1 then one of us will have to wait another week for a possible 1 vs 1 encounter. The 2 vs 2 will again be very important in the new season. If you win that you have a good chance of an overall win or at least a draw in the two 1 vs 1 clashes.
What are your targets for the new VBL season at a club level as well as in the individual competition?
Marc: We want to get to the finals again in the Club Championship. That means we have to be in the top eight in the league phase. In the individual championship, which I took part in last season, I'd like to do it again. I'd also like to reach the eChampions League again and also qualify for the individual World Cup for the first time. The two finalists of the German individual championship qualified last year when I went out on penalties at the semi-final stage.
We wish you both great success! To finish off, time for your advice: Which Ultimate Team cards must be in every line-up?
Sean: Theo Hernandez is incredibly good. He keeps going for 90 minutes and fends everyone off. From Leverkusen I currently most like playing the Champions League card of Jeremie Frimpong and the Rush version of Florian Wirtz. I would definitely recommend them!
