A Season of Self-Discovery: Insights from Dreal’s Most Challenging Year

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Today, we are sitting down with Ehsan "DREAL" Javed to discuss the most challenging season of his career with the LA Guerrillas M8, a season that also taught him the most about himself. We will also get his thoughts on the Rookie of the Year (ROTY) MVP and who he believes will win the COD Champs.

Lessons Learned This Season

Ronnie: What did you learn this past season?

This season has been an incredible learning experience, definitely the most insightful one yet in my coaching journey. From organizational dynamics to coaching philosophy and personal development, I’ve grown in multiple dimensions. I regularly reflect and review my progress throughout the season, and this year, those reflections were particularly eye-opening. While I’ve had the privilege of experiencing both highs (very limited) and lows in previous seasons, this one reinforced how much more you learn through adversity. That’s not just a cliché; it’s the truth. Winning teaches you how to maintain, but failure teaches you how to evolve. One of the biggest takeaways for me has been the importance of team culture. It's not just about talent or tactics—it’s about the values, mindset, and environment you build every day. I also learned the importance of stepping back and allowing players more ownership in their journey. Trusting the process, avoiding micromanagement, and empowering players to take responsibility were crucial lessons. Was it tough? Absolutely. But I don't shy away from saying it. That discomfort sparked real growth, and that’s something I’ll carry forward into every role I take on in the future.

📸 Photo by @CODLeague

If given the opportunity, would you restart this season with the knowledge gained from tough times?

Honestly, no. As difficult as it was, I believe these kinds of seasons are essential for long-term success. You don’t build greatness on comfort, somethin I learned from relentless this year; you build it through setbacks, mistakes, and course corrections. This season gave me something far more valuable than a clean record: clarity. It reaffirmed that coaching is my purpose and gave me the awareness and action plan to become a stronger leader moving forward. These lessons wouldn’t have come from a perfect season; they came from real challenges that forced me to adapt and evolve. I know I'll be better moving forward, and I'm comfortable with failing. Call it optimistic, but I see this season as a foundational step in my journey toward becoming the best coach I can be.

Expectations for Esports World Cup

With EWC approaching, what are the team's expectations for the tournament? How excited are you about the opportunity to turn things around during this event?

Even though I won’t be with the team at EWC, I’m proud of the progress we made, especially toward the end of the season. While it took time, we began to gel—both strategically and as a unit—which was evident going into Major 4. Our pace picked up, our hive mind and teamwork improved, and we started to really play our game. We laid a strong foundation: a blueprint rooted in structure, teamwork, and adaptability. The players now have a clear system and the freedom to make it their own. With the reduced pressure and more time to focus on growth, I truly believe they’re in a great position to enjoy the process and perform with confidence. I’ll be watching from the sidelines, fully supportive and proud of what they can still achieve.