The morning sun streamed through the window, dispelling the dark clouds from the night before.
Ethan opened his eyes and gazed at the clear sky outside, feeling a rare sense of joy. Good weather was a rarity in England, and today felt even more special.
He rubbed his temples, still feeling the aftereffects of last night's exhilarating victory. The adrenaline had yet to fully subside.
He vividly remembered the moment Adam White scored the second goal. Overcome with excitement, he had sprinted nearly forty meters down the touchline at Stamford Bridge.
Luton held firm in the closing stages, and when the referee finally blew the whistle three times to signal full-time, Ethan couldn't contain himself. He charged onto the pitch and slid to his knees in celebration—on the very turf where he had once worked.
Before taking charge at Luton, he had been the head coach of Chelsea's U18 team, leading them to their first-ever FA Youth Cup triumph. Now, just six months later, he had returned—not as a coach of the home team, but as an underdog manager who had just masterminded an FA Cup giant-killing.
Even a day later, the thrill of the victory over Chelsea—a Premier League club—still sent shivers down his spine.
Luton had gone from financial ruin and uncertainty to becoming the surprise package of the FA Cup's fourth round in just half a year.
After last night's triumph, Ethan knew that Luton had already made club history by reaching the fourth round. But now, he had a chance to push them even further.
His excitement had completely erased any trace of morning drowsiness.
Luton's next match wouldn't be until January 14—ten days away—when they would face Chester in the 24th round of the league. It was rare for a League Two side to get such a long break for recovery and adjustments. Aside from Irish U19 full-back Mitchell Pirani, who was away on international duty, the rest of the squad had been granted a well-deserved six-day holiday.
For Ethan, this was his first extended break since arriving at Luton.
After making himself breakfast, he spotted a newspaper on the coffee table.
Yesterday's paper.
A habit of his was reading the morning news with breakfast. He quickly got dressed, headed downstairs, and retrieved the latest edition from the mailbox at the entrance of his apartment.
Unfolding the freshly printed paper, he wasn't surprised to see the front pages still dominated by reports of last night's stunning result.
Chelsea, knocked out of the FA Cup by a League Two side—it was a headline too big for the media to ignore. The likes of the BBC and Sky Sports had already covered it extensively, and Fleet Street would surely continue dissecting the shock upset for days.
But while the English press had taken note of manager Ethan, their main focus was on Adam White—the 17-year-old who had announced himself to the world in spectacular fashion.
"A stunning upset in the FA Cup's third round! League Two side Luton Town defeat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, eliminating Scolari's side from the competition! Led by Chinese coach Ethan, Luton's disciplined defense frustrated Chelsea in the first half. Then, in the second half, 17-year-old Adam White was introduced—and he stole the show with two game-changing moments."
"Ashley Cole! Alex! Ivanović! Bosingwa! Deco! One by one, Adam White took them on—and one by one, they were left chasing shadows. Chelsea's expensive stars were left stunned by a teenager from Luton Town…"
"This is one of the FA Cup's biggest upsets in recent years. Ironically, it may have been Ethan's pre-match comments that provoked Scolari into fielding a strong lineup. But despite Chelsea's full-strength squad, they were toppled by Luton—and the architect of this giant-killing was a 17-year-old prospect. Expect the Premier League's elite to start circling—Adam White is now the hottest young talent in the transfer market!"
Ethan sipped his coffee, a small smirk playing on his lips. The media frenzy had only just begun.
After the match, Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted in the post-match interview, "For a moment, I thought I was watching Cristiano Ronaldo." His Chelsea side had been completely dismantled by Adam White, a young player who had emerged as the unexpected hero of the game. However, Luton Town's manager, Ethan, was unimpressed with Scolari's remarks. At the press conference, he scoffed, "Chelsea struggled to create clear-cut chances in both halves. On the other hand, Luton had more attacking opportunities. If not for Petr Čech's outstanding performance, the scoreline would have been more than 2-0 early on!"
With the buzz surrounding the match, Adam White—who both scored and assisted—became the latest darling of Fleet Street. While Luton's Chinese coach, Ethan, had masterminded the victory, the British media lavished praise on Adam, celebrating him as England's next big footballing sensation.
"A prodigy is born!"
"England's answer to Arjen Robben!"
"He's better than Messi!"
The English press exhausted their superlatives, showering Adam with praise. Even as Ethan scanned the reports, his own name only appeared in passing—mostly in connection to Adam.
"Chelsea defeated by a one-man masterclass! Ethan's secret weapon!"
Flipping through the newspaper, Ethan let out a sigh. "Adam's become a star overnight," he muttered. Though he wasn't worried about the immediate threat of losing him, he knew holding onto his talented squad wouldn't be easy. Fortunately, English football contracts did not include release clauses, giving Luton more leverage in negotiations.
Just as he was deep in thought, a sweet voice interrupted him.
"Reading the newspaper?"
Roy, still in her tight-fitting sportswear from her morning run, stood in the sunlight, her athletic figure accentuated by the glow of the morning rays. Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Ethan barely looked up. "Are you talking to me?"
Her smile froze slightly, but she kept her composure. "Of course, Mr. Ethan…"
"Then stop with the nonsense." He held up the newspaper.
Roy's gaze shifted to the page featuring a triumphant Adam White celebrating his goal. "Luton might struggle to keep him. From what I hear, several big clubs are circling. Do you have a plan, Coach Ethan?"
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Do you really think I'd tell you? You're a reporter. If this leaks to the press… Heh."
"I'm a Luton fan!" she countered.
"You're still a reporter."
Roy clenched her jaw, forcing a smile. "Since you've been living in my house for so long, could you do me a favor, Mr. Ethan?"
Ethan smirked. "Oh, my pleasure. Go ahead." He turned his back and casually closed the mailbox lid.
"Our magazine, The Hat Seller, wants to do a special feature on you."
"I refuse." Ethan rolled up the newspaper and headed for the door.
Roy's expression finally cracked. "You absolute bastard…"