Ethan didn't know he was famous in China—nor that he was about to become even more famous. He was holding Chelsea's starting lineup!
Sure enough, Scolari didn't rotate! In a match against a second-tier team, Scolari sent out nearly the same starting lineup as the one from the recent West London derby against Fulham, with only Anelka replacing the injured Drogba. Outside of Robben's debut, it seems Drogba's comments about "French Football" had irked Scolari.
The starting lineup was as follows:
Goalkeeper: Petr Čech
Right-back: José Bosingwa
Center-backs: Branislav Ivanović and Alex
Left-back: Ashley Cole
Seeing such a defensive lineup, Ethan grew serious. Čech is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and breaking his goal wouldn't be easy!
Although Ivanović can play right-back, he is primarily a center-back for Chelsea. Alex, known for his strong physicality, excellent stamina, fierce defending, and powerful long shots, was another key player in the defense.
As for Ashley Cole, he was arguably the best left-back in the Premier League at the time. He was fast, a strong contributor to attacks, and had excellent defensive capabilities. He could catch up quickly to opponents and was decisive in tackles.
This defensive setup was not yet Chelsea's strongest, as John Terry was still serving a suspension.
In midfield, Scolari opted for five players: Mikel, Joe Cole, Lampard, Deco, and Malouda. Up front, Anelka led the attack.
Ultimately, Scolari decided on a lone striker formation, perhaps due to Chelsea's strong early-season form, maintaining patience with a single forward.
Ethan took one last look at Scolari's starting lineup and sighed. Chelsea was largely fielding the same team they had used earlier in the season. Essien and Drogba had been crucial parts of Chelsea's central axis, but now only Čech and Lampard remained from that core. Would Deco be able to shoulder the midfield responsibilities for Chelsea?
As the game unfolded, it became clear that Scolari's use of Deco as a sole playmaker was problematic. In the fast-paced Premier League, Deco struggled to orchestrate attacks effectively.
Ethan focused on Deco's struggles—this could be the key to winning the match!
...
The players warmed up and returned to the locker room.
"Guys, many people said that we could only make it to the third round. Sure, we're up against Chelsea, and it's an away game, so our luck isn't exactly on our side..." Ethan spoke calmly. "But is that really the case?"
His voice suddenly rose, motivating his players. "Jamie, do you want to lose?"
"I'm always thinking about scoring goals, boss!" Jamie Vardy grinned.
"And what about you, Charlie?" Ethan asked, turning to Charlie Austin.
"Of course not!" Austin responded firmly.
Looking at Drinkwater, Ethan added, "What about you, Danny?"
Drinkwater immediately raised his hand: "I want to win, boss!!"
"Me too!!" N'Golo Kanté grinned, showing his teeth.
"Does anyone here want to lose? Is anyone thinking, 'We can't win, so let's just go out there and kick the ball around'?" Ethan asked, scanning the room.
"Very good! No one wants to lose!" Ethan's eyes gleamed. "When we step onto that pitch, we're not playing for fun—we're playing to win!!"
"Defense! Defense is the top priority!" Ethan emphasized. "In the first half, even if we can't score, we must not concede a goal!"
He saved his strategy for the second half.
"Alright, get ready to go!"
As the locker room door swung open, the Luton players marched out with their heads held high. Ethan's eyes locked on Adam—he was the key to their second-half strategy.
Ethan activated his football card system. The four card slots lit up with vibrant colors.
Game Card (Blue): Increases the success rate of steals for all players by 13%.
Game Card (White): Increases shooting skills by 5%, designated player: "Jamie Vardy."
Game Card (Yellow): Increases heading ability by 7%, designated player: "Jeffrey."
Game Card (White): Increases crossing ability by 5%, designated player: "Kevin Keane."
With only four card slots available, Ethan chose the best combination of cards to equip.
There are four card slots available, meaning you can choose four additional cards to use during the game. However, Ethan still has two cards in hand that are yet to be used.
Game Card (Green): Increases dribbling skills by 15%, designated for a specific player.
Game Card (Yellow): Increases speed by 7%, designated for a specific player.
These cards are intended to be used at the most opportune moment in the second half.
Adam White is known for his impressive dribbling and speed. After sending him onto the field, Ethan replaced his two cards and applied them to Adam White. This decision left everyone in awe!
After undergoing formal training at the Youth Training Academy, Adam's dribbling skills have reached an impressive 83, and his speed has climbed to 85! Once the cards are applied, Adam's dribbling and speed stats soar beyond 90, making him a potential world-class player.
In the second half of the game, bringing in a winger with such enhanced attributes could give Chelsea serious problems! Ethan couldn't help but smile, imagining Adam's frequent breakthroughs against Chelsea's defenders.
Unfortunately, Adam's stamina is only at half strength… but his physical training has definitely been reinforced!
At this point, players from both teams are lining up in the tunnel.
Chelsea's stars, of course, don't pay much attention to Luton's players. One team is in the Premier League while the other is in the second division. On top of that, Chelsea players earn tens of thousands of pounds a week, while Luton's players make only a fraction of that.
However, Luton's players can't help but gaze at the Chelsea stars. These players, whom they've only seen on TV in the past, are now standing right before them. Naturally, there's a certain curiosity.
At the back of the line, Vardy stands out as Luton's number one star. In most teams, the captain usually takes the lead, followed by the goalkeeper, with the team's key player often taking up the rear. Vardy, once an amateur, is now the cornerstone of the team after making the leap to a top professional in less than half a year.
As the teams follow the referee onto the pitch, Ethan emerges from the tunnel, his eyes scanning the famous Stamford Bridge stadium.
With his posture straightened, Ethan couldn't deny a sense of anticipation. The thought of possibly being fired didn't bother him, but he didn't hold any bitterness towards Chelsea either. He wasn't a child; personal grudges didn't weigh on him.
For Ethan, this game wasn't about getting revenge—it was about proving that the tactics he's developed with Luton are sound and capable of standing up to a truly strong team. He was there to show that he belongs on the biggest stage. A confident smile slowly spread across his face.