Those who spend a lot of time in FIFA 19 inevitably come across opponents who seem unbeatable. What can be adjusted to improve in Ultimate Team? FIFA 19 pro Marcel “DonChap28” Deutscher has given us some interesting tips in an interview.
This is Marcel “Donchap28” Deutscher: The progamer (@donchap28) has been playing FIFA 19 professionally under the banner of “L4K eSports” since 2017 and competes for “Team Paranoia”. “Donchap28” is now considered one of the best players in Germany – although the pro originally did not aim for a career in eSports. Nevertheless, he will soon be competing in the Grand Final of the Virtual Bundesliga 2019, among others.
In an interview with MeinMMO, the pro has given us a few tips: Which formation is the best? How do you take the perfect free kick? And most importantly: How do I prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from heading the next corner into the goal?
Tip 1: Stay calm!
Therefore, you should take breaks: The mentality when playing FIFA is one of the biggest points that distinguishes a pro from casual players. Concentration is crucial in a tournament – or in the Weekend League.
“There are many games that just go weirdly. We pros can often turn that to our advantage – casual gamers maybe not so much,” Deutscher emphasizes. “You can quickly become very frustrated and enter what is called ‘rage.’ Then you go into the next game totally pissed off – and with that mood, you lose the game for sure.”
The mantra is: Drink something, take a break, attack anew: “Stay concentrated and most importantly, be relaxed,” says Deutscher. Many players approach the Weekend League too seriously: “They tell themselves, ‘I have to win 20 games today.’ No, you don’t. If you only win 18 today, you’ll get the 19 next week and then the 20. Have fun and always stay focused.”
Tip 2: Corners and Free Kicks
The alternative free kick: In the past few years, there have always been standard variations that directly led to goals. Will there be one this time too?
“There is no perfect recipe for success this year,” Deutscher says, but explains an interesting free kick variant: “I take free kicks from the wings a bit differently: Instead of crossing, I use the shot button (Circle/B).”
It’s like in real football: “If you whip a cross in hard, it’s enough if the ball gets deflected. The shot needs to be well-placed, but then offensive players react quicker than defensive players.”
This is how pros handle corners: “Typically, we take corners short and try to create chances from there,” Deutscher emphasizes, but admits: “The best way to score in FIFA 19 is Cristiano Ronaldo. If he’s at the near post, you just have to cross to him and he heads it in.”
For this variant, the pro has a solution too: “This year, there’s the opportunity to manually move the goalkeeper. I usually position him at the near post, then nothing happens there.”
Tip 3: Cross, cross, cross
This is the influence of FIFA updates: The many updates in FIFA 19 have been hotly debated in the community. And even on the pitch, a lot has changed: “Since the last major update, many play relatively deep and allow themselves to fall back,” Deutscher explains.
Due to the tactical settings, you often encounter real defensive fortifications: “Then you play like against a wall, they stand with 8 or 9 players in the center. That’s why we try to get to the goal through crosses and headers.” Especially the El Tornado cross often creates danger.
Tip 4: The favorite formation
This is the formation recommended by the pro: “I loved playing with the diamond last year,” recalls Deutscher. In FIFA 19, however, this has changed especially after the updates: “Since everyone is sitting so deep, it’s better to come from the sides.” He prefers the 4-2-3-1 formation: “This way, you are in a better defensive position and have a ten as a passing option.”
If Deutscher is trailing, he usually switches to the 4-4-2 formation to apply more pressure with a second striker. It is also well suited for defense – switching to a five-man defense is not necessary: “You can adjust the team to be as defensive as needed with other formations. The striker then stands about 5-10 meters outside the penalty area and the rest are back.”
More tips on formations can be found in our guide:
Tip 5: What matters for player cards
Watch out for the price: “Players like Gullit, Ronaldo, or TOTY Mbappé are unaffordable for many,” Deutscher knows. However, especially in the coming months, the alternatives will become cheaper: “There are many players who are overpowered and will drop in price towards the end of the season. Additionally, the many Special Cards offer a lot of possibilities.”
Specific tips: “The normal Varane is no longer that expensive and is very playable,” Deutscher finds. Also offensively, he has some alternatives particularly suited for wing attacks and crosses into the center: “Offensively, Aubameyang wins many headed duels – and is fast. Also, a Werner surprisingly wins many headers.”
In offense, two characteristics are crucial: “You should ensure that players have at least 4-star skills so that you are flexible in the front and can use a trick if needed.”
In addition, a good weak foot is also important: “For example, a new Robben card just came out. It looks great, but it’s not an option for me. He only has two stars on his right foot – just like in real life. Neymar has five stars on his weak foot – the opponent can’t plan for that. With Robben, I know: He can shoot with his right, but not much will happen.”
A nice card – but not necessarily universally applicable
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