Early the next morning, the Luton Town squad returned home from London.
In Luton, the players were welcomed like heroes. The team bus crawled through the narrow streets, flanked by ecstatic fans waving flags and chanting. The victory over Arsenal had electrified the entire city. For nearly two hours, the team was paraded through the streets before finally arriving at the training ground.
Inside the facility, manager Ethan gathered the team and delivered the news they were hoping for—everyone was given the day off.
Beating a Premier League giant like Arsenal in the FA Cup was an incredible achievement for a League Two side, but Ethan wasn't ready to pop champagne just yet. The next fixtures were just as crucial, and he needed his squad focused.
Despite declaring a rest day, Ethan stayed in his office late into the afternoon, waiting for the crowd of fans outside to thin. If he stepped out earlier, he would've had to spend hours signing autographs like one of the players. Right now, they were the stars, and Ethan was happy to stay in the background.
With the training ground finally quiet, Ethan turned his attention to planning. He pulled out the calendar and started marking down key dates.
The FA Cup Final was set: May 20th at Wembley Stadium. Whether the opponent turned out to be Everton or Liverpool, it would be the grand finale of Luton's season.
Before that, however, the league campaign had to be completed. Five fixtures remained, including a rescheduled Round 42 match. But the most important clash loomed immediately—the 43rd round against the table leaders, Wycombe Wanderers.
Currently, Luton trailed Wycombe by two points, but had a game in hand. A win would catapult them to the top of the League One table. It was poetic—and cruel—for Wycombe. They had led the standings for over 40 rounds, only to potentially lose their grip at the finish line.
That night, back at his apartment, Ethan remembered the system reward tied to winning the league title.
He opened the football card system and navigated to the task tab. His eyes lit up—alongside the league task, a new objective had appeared.
The original task, "Save Luton," had a tiered reward. Even if he didn't clinch the title, Ethan had already steered the club to safety and beyond. But winning the league? That came with far juicier benefits: 8,000 experience points, a blue voucher, and 100 draw chances.
He already had two blue cards, one specifically for training enhancements. He knew how transformative those cards could be—each one capable of improving the squad significantly.
With only a few matches to go, and the momentum firmly behind them, Luton's title hopes were real. If they could take down Wycombe and hold steady, the League One crown would be theirs. And with it, Ethan would unlock a new tier of potential.
He then tapped on the newly refreshed task.
Quest: Legendary Dark Horse!
Objective: Lead Luton Town to win the 2008–2009 FA Cup, becoming the most shocking dark horse in the tournament's history!
Reward: 8,000 XP, one blue voucher, 100 draw chances
The system clearly considered the FA Cup just as challenging as the league—if not more so.
Ethan glanced at his level progress.
Level 2: 8600 / 10,000 XP
Just over a thousand more experience points and he'd reach Level 3. That would unlock a new card slot—another step toward turning Luton into a team that could challenge even the Premier League elite.
Confidence swelled in his chest. If Luton stayed sharp, he'd have the cards and the firepower to shock the world at Wembley. Everton or Liverpool might see Luton as a fluke—but Ethan was ready to rewrite their story.
...
Alexander's bar had been lively lately.
When Ethan walked in that evening, the place was already packed, the air thick with anticipation and the scent of lager. But he didn't have to worry—his usual seat by the window, right next to the TV screen, had been reserved just for him. Alexander, the bar's owner and a die-hard football fan, always made sure of that.
"Who do you think we'll draw—Everton or Liverpool?" Alexander asked, leaning in as he slid a pint across the table.
The nearby drinkers fell silent, tuning into the conversation. This was the question on everyone's mind.
Liverpool had looked like genuine title contenders for much of the season. Under Rafael Benítez, they had been top of the Premier League table heading into Christmas. But things began to unravel in early 2009. A frustrating run of form in January—three consecutive draws followed by another stalemate against Manchester City—saw them drop vital points. Four straight draws had cost them the top spot, and now they trailed Manchester United by six points.
Still, Liverpool remained one of the strongest teams in the league that season. Since March, they'd hit a run of blistering form, winning game after game. Most impressively, they'd dismantled Manchester United 4–1 at Old Trafford—a statement win if there ever was one.
Given their current form, Ethan privately hoped to avoid facing Liverpool in the upcoming FA Cup fixture. Benítez's team were on fire, and no one relished going up against them at their peak.
But publicly, Ethan remained composed. Whether it was Liverpool or Everton, he wouldn't show any sign of preference—not in front of the fans, nor the players.
"For us, it doesn't matter who we draw," Ethan said calmly. "We'll be ready either way."
The bar erupted into debate.
"I bet it'll be Liverpool," one man declared. "No way Everton beats them. Benítez is miles ahead of Moyes."
"I wouldn't count out Moyes," another argued. "Liverpool have to lose eventually. Why not now?"
"Why now, when it could be us they lose to?" someone else countered, earning a round of chuckles.
The speculation swirled as the pub buzzed with energy.
Deep down, Ethan knew it would be a tough ask for Everton to beat Liverpool at Wembley. The quality gap between the two sides was still clear, and tactically, Benítez usually outmaneuvered Moyes in head-to-head matchups.
And sure enough, despite a resilient first half that ended 1–1, Everton couldn't hold on after the break.
Steven Gerrard's thunderous long-range strike gave Liverpool the lead, and from there, Benítez's side took control. They managed the game with precision, keeping Everton at bay and seeing out a 2–1 win.
Liverpool had done it. They edged out their Merseyside rivals at Wembley and punched their ticket to the FA Cup final.
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