Ethan's presence on the touchline was met with immediate hostility.
As he stepped forward to greet Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian coach emerged from the tunnel. Ethan extended his right hand, maintaining a level of respect for a manager who had won the World Cup.
However, Scolari merely snorted, ignoring the gesture entirely as he walked past without even acknowledging him.
Awkwardly, Ethan retracted his hand, rubbing his nose in mild embarrassment. Clearly, his pre-match comments had struck a nerve with the veteran coach.
But he wasn't fazed. In football, the best way to respond to disrespect was simple—win on the pitch.
Ethan was convinced of his approach. Scolari's tactics, rigid and inflexible, belonged to a past era. His insistence on a predictable formation and lack of adaptability would be his downfall. While he might thrive in international football—where fewer matches allowed for a consistent tactical approach—the fast-paced, evolving nature of club football required a different level of dynamism.
From the commentary box, Martin Tyler chuckled.
"Scolari completely ignored Ethan!"
"It seems the Luton manager's remarks before the match really got under the Brazilian's skin," Gary Neville added. "Luton better be prepared—Chelsea have put out a strong side tonight."
"I don't think this is Chelsea's best XI, though. Drogba is still on the bench," Jamie Redknapp chimed in.
"Maybe Scolari believes this is his strongest lineup," Neville mused. "But Jamie, what do you make of Drogba's future at Chelsea?"
"It's tough to say," Redknapp admitted. "Scolari's position isn't exactly secure, and if things go south, Drogba might find himself back in favor."
As the commentators speculated, the teams took their positions on the pitch.
Meanwhile, on the Chinese broadcast, He Hongfa provided insight to viewers back home.
"Scolari completely ignored Ethan…" he remarked in the Guangti Sports studio.
Choosing to broadcast this match had been a wise decision. Even though it was past midnight in China, viewership had exceeded expectations.
"Before this match, Ethan was quite outspoken in the media, openly criticizing Scolari's tactical approach and the way he's reshaped Chelsea. It's no surprise the Brazilian manager wasn't pleased."
For Chinese audiences unfamiliar with the tension between the two managers, He Hongfa had gathered reports from international sources to supplement his analysis.
"Let's take a look at the starting lineups.
For Chelsea, Petr Čech starts in goal. Their defensive line consists of José Bosingwa at right-back, Branislav Ivanović and Alex at center-back, and Ashley Cole on the left. In midfield, we have Deco and John Obi Mikel sitting deep, with Frank Lampard playing further forward. On the wings, Florent Malouda starts on the left, Joe Cole on the right, and leading the line up front is Nicolas Anelka."
"Now for Luton, Ethan has gone with his strongest possible lineup from their league campaign. In goal, Claude Rondo starts. The backline features Mitchell Piran at right-back, a center-back partnership of George Parker and young Dutch defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, with Solo Davis at left-back. In midfield, captain Kevin Keane starts on the right, with Lewis Emanuel on the left. The central midfield pairing consists of Shikante and Danny Drinkwater. Up front, the strike partnership of Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin will look to trouble Chelsea's defense."
"If I'm not mistaken, Ethan is the only Chinese manager to ever coach in a European league. Let's hope he can showcase his talent on this big stage and, of course, have a bit of luck."
In the Pearl River Delta region, solo commentaries were common, and He Hongfa sat alone in the studio, speaking directly to the audience.
Ethan would certainly need some luck. Facing a team like Chelsea was no small challenge.
But he had something else, too—belief.
...
"As soon as the game kicked off, Luton dropped deep into their own half, with all three central defenders fully engaged in protecting the defensive line!" Letkinson commented.
"At least in these opening minutes, Luton's approach seems very pragmatic. Given the gulf in quality between the two sides, it would be suicidal for them to play openly. If they don't prioritize defense, Chelsea will tear them apart with ease!" added Little Redknapp.
"Yes, it's no surprise that Luton has chosen to sit deep and defend compactly."
Scolari sat on the bench, smirking. He had expected this so-called tactical genius from China to come up with some masterstroke, some revolutionary approach that would shake up the game. But in the end, what did Luton, a second-division side, bring to Stamford Bridge? A defensive counter-attacking setup?
Hah…
First, they need to defend properly, kid.
Up in the executive box, Roman Abramovich watched without expression. He hadn't originally planned to attend this match, but Ethan's pre-game remarks had irritated him. He wanted to see just how much substance this Chinese coach had behind his bold words.
Seated rigidly, Abramovich maintained a composed demeanor, aware that cameras were constantly trained on him.
In contrast, David Morton, the owner of Luton Town, had no such concerns. He was down in the away section, fully immersed in the fan experience. Clad in an orange Luton jersey, he sat among the traveling supporters, singing and cheering alongside them.
Though their voices were drowned out by the Stamford Bridge faithful, they still relished the occasion. For Luton fans, this game was more of a celebration—a rare opportunity to witness their team play at the home of one of English football's giants. Win or lose, their enthusiasm wouldn't wane.
As for an upset? Maybe 99% of Luton fans hadn't even dared to dream of it.
On the pitch, Scolari's Chelsea was dictating the tempo. His high-intensity tactics had transformed the team, and under his strict guidance, the players followed his instructions to the letter.
The ball was frequently funneled to Deco, tasked with orchestrating the attack.
So far, he had been Chelsea's most involved player, seeing more of the ball than even Lampard. But despite their superior possession, breaking through Luton's defensive setup was proving more difficult than expected. The Blues kept circulating the ball in midfield, but clear openings were scarce.
Deco glanced toward the touchline, eyeing Ethan.
So that's why you had the confidence to talk big… You actually know a thing or two.
But so what? A gap in quality like this isn't something tactics alone can overcome.
Frustration simmered within Deco. His form had been deteriorating over the past two months, and he was struggling to rediscover the sharpness he once had upon arriving in the Premier League.
And then there was this—some second-division coach having the audacity to claim he wasn't suited for English football?
I'll show you just how wrong you are.
Chinese coach?
I'll make sure you remember my name.
With renewed determination, Deco took control of the ball and looked to unlock the Luton defense once again.