Rodri is joint-highest-rated player in the game (91/100), but his pace rating is ‘only’ 66. In real life, it probably would not make sense to drop the Spaniard for a player with a lower rating with more pace, but in FC 25, a faster player in a similar role may bring more success in a game mode like Ultimate Team.

The central midfield (CM) position is arguably the most important role in any football team. These players dictate the tempo, control the flow of the game, and are the bridge between defense and attack.

As a massive FIFA fan and regular player since it first debuted on the Sega Mega Drive in 1993, I went into last year's EA Sports FC 24 with renewed vigour. I didn't mind the name change – in fact, I embraced it as I saw it as an excuse for EA to radically move its footy game series forward.