The IEM Cologne playoff stage is set to begin shortly with six teams taking the stage in the infamous LANXESS arena, hoping to be the ones lifting the trophy on Grand Final Sunday.

However, Counter-Strike action will start much earlier, with two quarter-finals game taking place this Friday. On media day we got to speak with Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo ahead of MOUZ’s bout with G2.

Credit: Stephanie Lindgren | ©PGL

Bruno: Congrats on qualifying to the quarter-finals. You beat Falcons, Complexity and lost against Vitality.

How would you rate MOUZ’s group stage performance?

Jimpphat: I think so far I’m really happy we made it to the arena first of all. Our first two games were a bit shaky to be honest, maybe not the clearest wins, but as a team we still take it, because it means a lot to make it to the arena.

Yesterday we played against Vitality – I think it was a good game, except the first map, because they were much more prepared on the first map. So yeah, Vertigo we should have won overall, but I think on Dust 2 they were just much more prepared or maybe a bit better as well, so I give that to them. I think overall we are really happy.

Bruno: MOUZ is a German organization.

Does that mean anything to you when you’re playing, make you want to push through to qualify?

Jimpphat: Yeah, I mean, I hope there will be a lot of fans of MOUZ. It’s usually something that we never have with this team, because I think most of the fans when we play in other countries cheer for other teams, but I feel like here we have a great chance to have fans cheering for us, because as you said MOUZ is from Germany.

I just hope there will be a lot of German fans because I want to experience as a team fans cheering for us because I think it will boost us and give us more confidence. Yeah, I think in that way it’s pretty nice.

Bruno: Many people say MOUZ can’t do it on the big stage.

Do you think the support from the fans can get you over the line in those tough games?

Jimpphat: Yeah, I mean, I think they will always help. But I think also that most times it will come from us, how we play. But I think that if it’s about confidence then the fans will definitely help us.

Bruno: You’ve been playing a lot of Vertigo, unlike many other teams and your performances on it are quite up and down.

What do you think of the map and how does it play?

Jimpphat: I think Vertigo is a bit of a unique map compared to the rest. I think that as a team we really like it. For me personally it’s not one of my favorite maps. Just out of the positions I play I don’t enjoy the most, but as a team we really like it and I would say we’re one of the best on Vertigo.

Like yeah, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but when we lose it’s mostly about doing silly mistakes and it’s usually that we’re playing very good as a team, we’re just losing to stupid mistakes I would say. So yeah, as a team we really like it, but me, personally not my favorite.

Bruno: You’re on the tougher side of the playoffs with G2 and NAVI.

With G2’s form looking so good, do you think you have what it takes to take them on, seeing that they usually improve in the playoffs?

Jimpphat: Yeah, I mean, I definetly think that.

We are really confident. I don’t think that G2 are in the best shape right now, compared to the other teams. I think they are doing very good, but I still think that G2 has always been a really good matchup for us.

And now it’s the first time that we play against their new lineup, so it will be nice to see how it will go and how Snax will call. But I think it will be a nice first game for us. I think also, whenever we win it, it will give us some nice confidence for the rest of the games, against NAVI for example. So yeah, I’m really looking forward to it.

Bruno: Thank you and good luck.


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