YEKINDAR Says FURIA Focused on Fixing Problems One by One Amid FalleN Retirement Pressure

FURIA's Counter-Strike 2 team is working through a difficult 2026 season, and rifler Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis says the focus remains on fixing internal problems rather than chasing immediate results.

Speaking to HLTV on the media day for StarSeries Fall, YEKINDAR described the team's approach as methodical. "There are a lot of things happening in the team from the start of the year, and it's more about focusing on and figuring out the problems and the things we have to fix, one by one," he said.

FURIA have gone nearly a year without a title since their strong finish to 2025. Grand final appearances at IEM Krakow and the IEM Cologne Major offered bright spots, but the team has struggled to convert that form into victories.

The looming retirement of Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo has added pressure to the squad. While YEKINDAR acknowledged the situation is on everyone's mind, he emphasized that the team is trying to stay grounded in the present. "I think that this specific season, as well, everyone is elevating their work ethic in many ways, and we're truly trying to fix our problems," he said.

After a loss to Legacy in China, the team held a candid discussion. "'Guys, we know FalleN is going to be retiring; we know we're playing bad right now. How can we fix it?' That's basically the mojo," YEKINDAR explained.

He noted that the team is not relying on external support to manage the pressure. "We don't have talks with a psychologist to deal with this situation. We trust each other," he said.

FURIA open their StarSeries Fall campaign against MIBR, with both teams having recently traveled from events in China. YEKINDAR said matches against rising teams like Legacy and MIBR are important for learning and preparation ahead of the upcoming Major cycle.

"It's everyone's individual responsibility to be the best version of themselves," YEKINDAR concluded, reflecting the team's current mindset as they look to rebuild momentum.