"I am very dissatisfied with your performance in the first half!"
Luiz Felipe Scolari's voice echoed through the Chelsea locker room at halftime. His frustration was evident, but while some players listened attentiv,ely, others seemed indifferent, focused on their own routines.
There was one problem—Scolari had delivered his outburst in Spanish. His English wasn't fluent, so, as had been the case since his arrival, most players had to wait for the translator.
"We need to attack in the second half!" the translator relayed.
Now, the players turned their attention to the manager.
"Didier will play in the second half!"
Seated in the corner, lost in thought, Didier Drogba immediately perked up at the mention of his name.
So, the old Brazilian finally remembers me when he needs to attack, huh?
Drogba had spent the early part of the season sidelined with an injury. By the time he was fit again, Nicolas Anelka had taken his starting spot. If Chelsea had maintained their blistering early-season form, it might have been understandable. But over the past two months, their performances had nosedived. Anelka, deployed as a lone striker, had suffered a severe goal drought.
Logic dictated that Scolari should have experimented with Drogba's return—perhaps even pairing him with Anelka—but the stubborn Brazilian persisted with his single-striker system, keeping Drogba benched.
Anelka's expression darkened. A flicker of anxiety crossed his face.
Drogba's reputation speaks for itself.
Anelka had only secured his starting role due to Drogba's injury. If the Ivorian now performed well, and Scolari remained insistent on a lone striker, Anelka could soon find himself relegated to the bench. No player welcomed that—not just because of a desire to play, but also due to financial incentives. Bench players received fewer match bonuses, fewer goal bonuses, and a smaller share of the team's win bonuses.
Around the room, Chelsea players reacted differently to the news.
Frank Lampard and Petr Čech exchanged glances, barely concealing their approval. Drogba, after all, was better integrated with Chelsea's old guard, his chemistry with them undeniable.
Even in a lone striker system, Drogba's physicality and aerial ability made him a formidable target man. Anelka was quicker, well-suited to counterattacks, but when a match required a battle of attrition, his lack of physical presence and tendency to get muscled off the ball made him a liability.
Lampard, for one, had never understood Scolari's reluctance to use Drogba. If we were playing against a strong team and relying on quick counters, fine—Anelka's speed is an asset. But in a game like this, where we need to dominate? A lightweight forward who struggles in physical duels is practically playing with ten men.
Then Scolari's next words caught them off guard.
"Joe! You'll rest in the second half."
The locker room fell silent.
Joe Cole?
Wait… does that mean… double strikers?
Chelsea hadn't played a two-striker system all season.
Joe Cole blinked in surprise, but he understood. The team needed to attack. Dropping a midfielder to accommodate two forwards was an aggressive move, but a logical one.
Scolari looked around at his players. "Now we have two strikers on the pitch," he said. "One will have to shift wide at times, while the other plays centrally. You'll switch positions when needed."
Lampard rubbed his temples.
This guy… his stubbornness is unbelievable.
Anelka's eyes narrowed. "I'm not playing on the wing," he said flatly.
Drogba frowned. So what? You expect me to do it?
He was on the verge of standing up, ready to confront Anelka, when the locker room door suddenly swung open.
Roman Abramovich entered.
Silence.
Scolari hesitated. Abramovich's unexpected presence killed the brewing argument. But while the Russian owner's entrance had prevented an imminent conflict, Scolari couldn't help but feel irritated by the intrusion.
He was the manager, after all. Yet, in this moment, it was clear who truly held the power at Chelsea.
The Locker Room is Sacred
The locker room is a sanctuary. What happens inside stays inside—only the players and coaches know. Any player who leaks information about what goes on will be ostracized by his teammates.
No outsiders are allowed in, especially during halftime!
"I want to win!!!"
The Russians hadn't abandoned the fundamental values of football!
"Why don't I have a decisive victory?! Get that arrogant Chinese player out of my stadium!!"
Abramovich roared, his forehead veins bulging as he breathed heavily in the spacious home locker room. Then, with a forceful stride, he stormed out and slammed the door behind him.
Tactical Adjustments
Bang!
Ethan slapped the tactical board with one hand.
"Hold the defensive line for another 20 minutes in the second half! The winner will emerge in the 70th minute!"
The Luton players sat around him, their expressions serious. Compared to the vast, well-equipped home locker room, the visitors' space was small and cramped. The thin walls did little to block the roar of the Chelsea fans outside, their chants reverberating through the room.
Ethan had to raise his voice to ensure his players heard him clearly.
Adam White could barely contain his excitement. Ethan had already told him—he would be subbed in around the 65th minute as the team's offensive focal point.
"You will be the one to decide this match!"
When Ethan clapped Adam's shoulder and said those words, the 17-year-old nearly trembled with anticipation.
This was Chelsea. Stepping onto the pitch as the game-changer against such a powerhouse filled him with adrenaline.
"Don't get too hyped, kid," Ethan said with a smirk, ruffling Adam's thick curls. "Stay composed! A professional player should always keep his cool—except when celebrating a goal!"
"Yes, boss!!!"
Adam straightened his posture, grinning, as a ripple of laughter spread through the locker room.
Halftime passed in a blur. As the players filed out, Ethan watched their backs with a knowing smile.
After this match—after they beat Chelsea—many of these boys would become household names...
Still smiling, he stepped out and shut the locker room door behind him.