Luton Town has drawn Chelsea in the FA Cup. To most, this might seem like just another Premier League side facing a lower-league opponent, but for Luton, this is huge. Chelsea, a powerhouse, is expected to breeze into the fourth round, but for the people of Luton, this match holds special significance.
Perhaps many in England are unfamiliar with Ethan's career, but Luton fans know his story well. Ethan once led Chelsea's U18s to an FA Youth Cup victory, only to be dismissed afterward. The decision baffled many, but in hindsight, Luton supporters might see it as a blessing. Had Ethan not been sacked, he might never have ended up at Kenilworth Road.
Among the squad, Ethan's past at Chelsea is a topic of great curiosity. Despite his relatively young age, his authoritative presence commands respect, leaving players hesitant to discuss it in front of him. However, some "informants" in the dressing room—like Jeffrey—have shared stories of his time at Chelsea, leaving many of his players in awe.
Recently, Ethan was named League Two's Manager of the Month for November, but he paid little attention to the award, focusing instead on Luton's demanding schedule. The third round of the FA Cup is still a month away, but December presents a brutal fixture list. Luton faces seven matches, including two within 48 hours right after Christmas. In November, the club applied to the FA for a scheduling adjustment, but earlier today, the request was denied.
Frustrated, Ethan did not hold back. Ahead of Luton's home fixture against Barnet on December 6, he lashed out at the FA in the pre-match press conference:
"We only get two days' rest, but our opponents get four. This is completely unfair. I have no idea what the person responsible for this schedule was thinking—maybe their head is full of shit. They clearly haven't considered player welfare at all!"
Ethan is usually calm and composed, rarely making controversial remarks. So when he openly criticized the FA with such blunt language, reporters were stunned. But soon, they realized—this was a headline-worthy moment.
During the match itself, the press seemed distracted, as Ethan's comments overshadowed the game. On the pitch, however, Luton dominated. Charlie Austin opened the scoring in the first half, Jamie Vardy doubled the lead early in the second, and late in the game, substitute target man Matt Schmidt sealed a 3-0 victory.
Barnet, hovering near the relegation zone, never stood a chance, and Luton's win surprised no one. But it was Ethan's "shit" remark that stole the spotlight. His words were splashed across newspapers, and even BBC's Match of the Day picked it up.
"Luton's Chinese coach Ethan claims the FA officials responsible for scheduling 'have their heads full of shit'," read the segment introduction. Host Gary Lineker, known for his humor, chuckled and said, "Well, Mr. Ethan, honesty is great, but sometimes, a little diplomacy goes a long way!" His comment drew laughter from the audience.
But Ethan knew this kind of media attention wasn't ideal. Sure enough, the FA acted swiftly—by the next day, he had received an official warning and a £5,000 fine.
Despite the controversy, Luton's momentum remained unaffected. Their winning streak continued, and on December 13, they traveled to face league leaders Wycombe Wanderers.
This was a top-of-the-table clash, and Luton's players were fired up. They believed that without the FA's initial 30-point deduction, they would be the ones sitting at the summit.
Going into the match, Wycombe had 41 points, while Luton had clawed their way back to 25. The league had reached its 19th round, and both sides remained unbeaten. Wycombe's record stood at 11 wins and eight draws—impressive, but pale in comparison to Luton's astonishing 18 wins and one draw.
Ahead of the match, Wycombe's manager described it as "the highest-level game in League Two this season." Though he added some disclaimers, neither set of supporters needed extra hype. For them, this was a battle that could define the season.
The result of the final game was stunning. Wellcome Rangers, playing at home, started aggressively, attempting to launch waves of attacks. However, they quickly realized that Luton was simply a class above them—stronger, faster, and more composed.
In just the fourth minute, Kanté intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly played it to Kevin Keane. Keane controlled the ball before delivering a precise pass to Drinkwater. Without hesitation, Drinkwater played a first-time through ball to Vardy. Facing the goal, Vardy took one touch before smashing a powerful right-footed shot into the back of the net!
Luton led 1-0.
From that moment on, the game was completely under Luton's control. They played with confidence and composure, dictating the tempo while forcing Wellcome Rangers to push forward in search of an equalizer—playing right into Luton's hands.
The second goal came swiftly. In the 18th minute, Luton won back possession deep in their half. Drinkwater spotted a gap and delivered a perfectly weighted long pass behind the defense. Vardy latched onto it, driving into the penalty area before squaring the ball to the back post, where Charlie Austin had the simplest of tasks—tapping it into an empty net.
Wellcome Rangers, a team at the top of the table, were being dismantled at their own ground in ruthless fashion.
By halftime, Luton had stormed to a 3-0 lead. In the second half, both managers made changes, with Ethan introducing three substitutes to see out the game. The final blow came in the 68th minute when Kevin Keane unleashed a thunderous long-range strike that rocketed into the net, sealing a dominant 4-0 victory.
Throughout the match, Ethan rarely left his technical area—his team had executed the game plan to perfection.
The top team in the division?
Luton made them look ordinary.