I check which players have a lower than usual rating, or watch which ones fall from the beginning and try to understand if I can change something.

For example, my DR almost always has an attack arrow, but in rare cases his rating will fall, in which case I see if opponent has 2 players pressuring that flank (if they have "clashing" arrows). In that case, switching DR to no arrow, then to back arrow if rating keeps falling. Reading ratings has taken him from dropping below 6 to MoM in the course of 35'.

The 2 other lessons agree with others: 1) Don't panic and stick to a plan. I'm convinced I cost myself the cup this season - I refused to sub in DMC for AMC during a game I was losing even though that was my pre-game plan if losing. On the return leg, I switched formations and trounced the opposition, but lost on aggregate. Would've moved forward with more disciplined response.

2) Some formation match ups really require backing down to normal or defensive to stop giving up opportunities. It's hard to do.