MOUZ player Jimi Jimpphat Salo gave a short interview to Players correspondent Sofiia Pikhalo during media day ahead of the IEM Kraków 2026 playoffs in CS2.
So, you beat Falcons on overtime 2-0, why do you think it happened? Like, balance of the map or some mistakes?
I mean, I think a lot came down to the mentality we had during the whole day yesterday, basically. We had won bo3 previously against FaZe, we managed to beat them 2-0.
I think it gave us a lot of confidence coming to the Falcons game. We knew yesterday will be a really long evening, really long night because we had so many games. But for us, in this moment, it didn't come down to preparation or anything like this. It was just the belief of the team and the confidence we had. And I think that also gave us edge in the Dust2 in the end.
So, do you think you can run only on confidence or still you need to prepare a lot on some unusual teams in the playoffs? Because Vitality and Spirit are usual, as always.
But who was the most unexpected team to go to the finals for you?
The finals? Like we played against ever?
No, no. Today, in the playoffs, we have Aurora, we have Mouz, we have Vitality. We had Falcons before and you beat them, but also like Aurora and G2 as well. So, who is unexpected for you the most from all of them?
I mean, I think, in a way, if I think about it, who do we face more often? Maybe it's actually G2 because we haven't played G2 that much. It's a little bit like an unknown opponent for us. So, we don't know so much about them.
We just need to play our own game. And besides that, I think everyone else has usually been in the playoffs. So, yeah, I would say G2, maybe.
If you're not used to G2 yet, they also changed their roster half a year ago. So, what do you expect from them? Easy match because you won them previously or not that easy?
I think it will be quite a tough match, to be honest. I think that they are in good shape as a team and also as individuals. They have some really good players. I think HeavyGod is their star, in a way. I'm a really good friend with him, but I'm just happy to go against him on the server as well because he's a good friend of mine and a good player, especially.
So, I think when we go against them, we will, of course, watch and do some preparation. But as I said, we just need to play our own game because I think as a team, we are still much better than them. We just need to show it tomorrow in the arena. And yeah, I think that will bring us a long way.
So, how hard for you to maintain the stability in the team having map changes? How do you approach changes in the map pool as well?
I mean, I think for us, it's a little bit unfortunate now that Train got removed. Obviously, we really enjoyed Train and we were one of the best teams probably on the map. And yeah, Dust2 came back. Not the map we that much like. Like, we didn't play it that much.
Even previously, it wasn't maybe the best map, but still decent. And now, yeah, now that Dust2 is back again, many teams are trying to, in a way, punish picking against us. But I think we have shown that we are pretty good on the map still. And I think in a way, also, it's a benefit for us that people are picking it now in the group stage. So, if it happens again in playoffs, we already have a pretty good baseline for the map. But because of that, I'm still kind of happy that Valve is making these changes, like that they changed the map pool, because I think it makes the game just more interesting for the players, but also for the viewers.
Do you are rooting for the Cache comeback? Or like, it's still good?
Yeah, I mean, I think why not? I really liked Cache back in the day, so I hope it will come back at some moment. Would be nice.
I assume you would like to play on the same team as Aleksib. And has there ever been an opportunity for that?
No, I don't think there officially has been any opportunity, but there has been some talks at some moments about the future or current moment. I cannot say that much about it, but nothing too serious. But yeah, obviously, like, one day I hope that I could play with him.
I could, like, learn a lot from him, obviously. And he's the only Finnish player who is playing now in the tier 1 scene, so it would be nice.
If a super team, anyone, like, called you tomorrow, what would you need to hear from them to say yes?
Super team... I don't know. Enough money, maybe.
50k.
Yeah, exactly.[smiles]