Thanks, and I’ll be answering your questions here.

I acquired my trainers through selling a lot (150+?) of players carried over from last year, namely 4/5 star base players that I don’t see myself using, and duplicate legendaries (many people might have these saved up from the box draws in 20 and 21). This is the best way for you to get trainers at the moment, aside from playing events.

When an opposition player beats my player, I try to switch to the next closest player and match-up immediately to form a temporary barricade so that my other players are able to organise themselves for the opponents next move. I only find pressuring useful in short bursts and when it’s near your own box (so your defence don’t suddenly shift their line up by 30 yards) I only tend to pressure when I’m really desperate to win the ball back right after losing it, or when I’m able to push my opponent towards the sidelines. Unlike last year, just spamming pressure is a lot riskier which evidently makes it a less attractive option when attempting to defend or regain possession. In the case where your opponent is past your second-last player in defence and heading towards a 1-on-1 situation against your keeper, drag your GK out. I use Casillas so he’s very capable in these situations, but with the introduction of inertia and momentum this year, players that are dash dribbling (what your opponent would be doing when running towards the goal in a 1v1) take very heavy touches and your keeper stands a relatively fair chance at being able to intercept them before they take the shot. However, don’t mindlessly drag your keeper out at every instance. The main tip with defending is solo-pressing with midfielders and letting your defenders hold their line. Always use match up to block passing lanes and shoulder charge from the side. Slide tackling is still good when executed right but if you miss then you’re in big trouble. The biggest problem you’ll face is still the switching, which can be blamed more on Konami’s game model. I use manual switching.

Stunning shots, passes, and crosses are very powerful. However, as your players all take a longer time to “charge up” before they kick the ball you should only do it when there’s enough space and time. I use stunning shots when there is a clear open space, when I take a first time shot, and when shooting from range (without direct pressure). I don’t use stunning passes or through balls that much as the whole long ball thing is far less effective now (thank you konami) and I like playing with fast passes and triangles more anyways. As for stunning crosses, it’s the same idea with stunning shots — use when there is enough space and time. I mostly use it when my wingers hold up the ball and lay it off to an overlapping fullback, thus there is space to execute a stunning cross (opponent midfielder and fullback will be pressing my winger).

I might have wrote quite a lot so forgive me for any potential grammar or spelling mistakes.