xPeke sits at the LCS analyst desk © Riot Games

A second place finish in the EU LCS Spring Split is nothing to be ashamed of. Millions of players hope to one day climb to such heights, and even some of the best players in the world have never managed such a result. But for Origen second place has become something of a curse. In both of their splits in the LCS they've emerged from the play-offs in second place , always just falling short of taking the title of the best team in Europe.

After having one of the more stable rosters in the EU scene, two second place finishes was enough to signal a significant change in personnel for the organisation. Both Jesper 'Zven' Svenningsen and Alfonso 'Mithy' Aguirre Rodriguez , who made up Origen's bottom lane, left the team and in their place come Konstantinos 'FORG1VEN' Tzortziou-Napoleon , from H2k, and Glenn 'Hybrid' Doornenbal , from eventual Spring Split champions G2 .

Changing players, especially the bottom lane combo, mid season is always a risk, but Origen have certainly found some top tier replacements and should once again be towards the top of the pack when the end of the summer split rolls around. In order to get the low down on the new signings, and see if the team believes they will be as good as last split, we spoke with team manager and substitute mid player Enrique 'xPeke' Cedeño Martínez .

"When we had to decide on a new bottom lane with such short notice, we didn't want to risk bringing players with potential, or that could become good," explains xPeke when asked about why the organisation chose to bring in these specific players. "So the decision wasn't hard. Our goal is to go to Worlds, and with players like FORG1VEN and Hybrid we know we will qualify if we manage to get a good feeling as a team in-game."

Obviously, losing one team member is tough, but losing your whole bottom lane is quite an upheaval for the team. Bringing in players of FORG1VEN and Hybrid's quality seems like the best way, on paper at least, to come back in fighting shape, but as we have seen before bringing in the best doesn't always work. It also means that there'll probably be some changes in the way Origen play, and with just a couple of weeks to get ready before the Summer Split starts, it could be a difficult first few games.

Origen play in the EU LCS final © Riot Games

"Losing both players from the bottom lane is a tricky situation," xPeke admits. "We know how to play without the previous botlane and we could teach a new player how we like to move around. Having a full new botlane means that everyone will have to learn more from each other, as neither of them ever played with us. They will have their own style, their strengths and weaknesses, but we can help them and advise them in things we think work better, while they can do the same with us. If we all find the right path we will be able to get the best of both playstyles."

xPeke is someone that's been in the League of Legends scene for years, winning the first ever world championship with Fnatic and eventually forming Origen after the 2014 season. He's seen many players come and go from the LoL world, including former team-mates and bitter rivals, and to an outsider seems to be one of the most connected members of the scene, which is why we were surprised to learn that xPeke didn't know FORG1VEN or Hybrid particularly well before signing them.

"Personally I didn't know them that much," xPeke says. "Just from seeing them around at events and some chats here and there. Maurice ['Amazing' Stückenschneider] has more of a past with FORG1VEN, so they will know each other a lot more already. Sadly we've only been able to talk online so far. Today Hybrid is arriving and we'll start seeing how it is with new people, but I think it will be fine. So far everyone has been super positive and motivated to win."

The one question that most Origen fans will most likely have is; will the team be able to secure another top two finish this split? Prior to Zven and Mithy leaving, many would have put them as a top squad in the split. But with an entirely new bottom lane, along with some other changes in the league, such as the return of Bora 'YellOwStaR' Kim to Fnatic and spring champions G2 now having the former Origen bottom duo, things look less certain. Origen could find themselves down the pecking order. xPeke, however, is confident that his team will still be a top competitor come the end of the Summer Split.

"It's hard to tell how well we will do, because it depends on a lot," xPeke says. "Sometimes you find synergy, from the first moment you just connect. If that happens expect a strong line-up with a high skill cap. If it doesn't work it will take some weeks, possibly up to a month, of practice and getting into the right mindset. In both cases I still see us as a top team towards the end of the split. Every season it has been crazy to predict winners, but it seems like Fnatic has a good roster and G2 looks really good with the Zven acquisition, but it's also same for us."

Even if Origen don't manage to win the Summer Split, with a second place finish in the Spring Split under their belts they're in a solid position to make it to worlds based on championship points. While another top four finish at Worlds seems somewhat unlikely, it certainly isn't out of the question entirely, and xPeke mentioned that ultimately this is the goal for his new squad.

"The goal is always making it to Worlds," says xPeke. "You've got to be realistic about your own expectations, and right now we don't even know our level yet. I still think we can make it if we just dedicate our passion to it. Once we make it to Worlds, we will take it one step at a time, sometimes beating a hard opponent is already enough."

By signing two of the top players in Europe, arguably the world, Origen has turned what could have been a disastrous situation into one that has the chance to pay off big time for them. The new bottom lane may get off to a rocky start due to the lack of practice time, but come the end of the split it would be a surprise if Origen weren't once again up there. Who knows, they may even break the second place curse and end the split as champions of Europe.