Football Card System

On February 14, at Worth Stadium in the heart of Luton City,

Facing a team like Manchester City at home, Luton fans showed tremendous enthusiasm for this round of the FA Cup. This was the first time in the team's history that they had reached the fifth round of the competition. Every moment of this event was a piece of history in the making for the team.

Although the game wasn't set to begin until 5 p.m., fans had already started gathering from all directions at Worth Stadium right after lunch.

The atmosphere was festive, and the fans treated the match as if it were a grand party. While Luton had already pulled off an upset by defeating Chelsea, few believed the team, led by Gao Bo, could continue performing miracles. Pulling off one upset might be considered a miracle, but consistently winning? That would signify true strength. However, most doubted that a League Two team like Luton had the ability to compete at a Premier League level, even if they had been excelling in their current league.

Nonetheless, thanks to Luton's performance in the previous round of the FA Cup and the lack of a marquee matchup in this round, Sky Sports chose to broadcast this game live.

The network likely believed that this match had plenty of talking points. After all, Manchester City's recent transfer activities often found their way into headlines, and Luton, a League Two team, had also been frequently mentioned in mainstream media coverage recently.

...

The weather that day was excellent. A sunny day in England during winter was a rare treat, especially compared to the cloudy and rainy days just prior.

When Gao Bo stepped off the team bus, he squinted as the sunlight dazzled his eyes.

The outdoor temperature was around 15 or 16 degrees Celsius. With the sun shining brightly, Gao Bo, who was dressed in a wool suit jacket, felt a little too warm. He took off his jacket and waved to the fans watching from a distance.

As usual, Gao Bo was met with warm cheers from the gathered supporters, who chanted his name and applauded him.

The coach, who had led the team to make history in the FA Cup, had also been instrumental in lifting the team out of its earlier slump. Though Gao Bo had only been in Luton for half a year, he was already one of the most respected figures in the city.

The players got off the bus one by one, receiving equally warm welcomes from the fans.

This kind of scene unfolded before every home game for Luton.

...

Meanwhile, Manchester City had been in good form lately.

Since January, with the Premier League not as tightly scheduled, Manchester City had played five matches, winning three and losing two. Though the loss ratio seemed high, it was worth noting that their three victories had come in their last three games. In other words, Manchester City was currently enjoying a three-game winning streak.

This was a stark improvement from their December performance, where they played eight matches, ending with four draws, four losses, and zero wins. The pressure on Manchester City's players had significantly eased recently.

In the visiting team's locker room at Worth Stadium, Manchester City players were chatting and laughing freely.

Mark Hughes, the team's head coach, was also in a good mood. Coaching a team like Manchester City felt fantastic. Not only was the salary exceptionally high, but the transfer budget was virtually unlimited. The Arab owners' investment in the club was such a small fraction of their wealth that it hardly made a dent.

Mark Hughes had carefully studied the Luton team and had to admit that they were indeed well-trained, disciplined, and creative—a team worthy of their current results in League Two.

In the locker room, Hughes addressed his players with a serious expression: "This team is stronger than you might think. Although they're in League Two right now, they play at a level that could compete in the Championship. We must not take them lightly!"

"Don't worry, boss. No matter what, they're just a League Two team. As long as we play seriously, they won't stand a chance!" said Robinho, the team's top star, with a smile.

Robinho was a typical Brazilian—always in a good mood, with a perpetual smile on his face. He was friendly to everyone and had a knack for making people like him.

The Manchester City players adored him, especially since he often treated them to nights out at the club.

While Mark Hughes privately agreed with Robinho's assessment, as a coach, he had to prepare for all possibilities. He couldn't afford to be as relaxed as his players.

"Robbie, watch out for their No. 6, Kante! That Frenchman is an excellent defensive player—a real workhorse in midfield," Hughes warned.

Robinho, who had been a key player for Manchester City this season, didn't pay much attention to the warning. With plenty of goals and assists under his belt, Robinho felt confident. As the former No. 10 at Real Madrid, he was Manchester City's standout player. The €42 million transfer fee that brought him to the club had made him the Premier League's most expensive player at the time.

Interestingly, Robinho himself admitted that when he first negotiated his transfer, he had believed he was signing for Chelsea rather than Manchester City.

The Brazilian brushed off Hughes' concerns.

"They're just a League Two team. How strong can they really be?"

...

In Luton's locker room, Gao Bo gave instructions to Kante.

"You're in charge of marking Robinho, N'Golo!"

Although Robinho's career would later falter, at this point, he was still close to his peak. He remained a major threat on the field for Manchester City.

Facing a fast and skillful player like Robinho, Luton's two tall center-backs would struggle. Gao Bo decided to assign Kante to man-mark Robinho.

With Kante's tireless work ethic, Robinho's speed and dribbling wouldn't be so effective.

"Don't worry, boss! I'll make sure he doesn't get a chance to do anything," Kante said with a grin. Against the backdrop of his dark skin, his bright smile looked particularly cheerful.

"You need to show some aggression, N'Golo, so that strikers are afraid of you," Gao Bo said helplessly. Kante was exceptional on the pitch, but his demeanor off it didn't exactly scream "fierce defender."

The Luton players in the locker room laughed.

...

As the players from both teams lined up in the tunnel, Kante found himself standing opposite Robinho.

The Brazilian glanced at Kante, who greeted him with a warm, innocent smile.

Robinho's face twitched. We're opponents here, kid. Do you even know what's going on?

Feeling more confident, Robinho joked, "Want my autograph, kid? After the match, I can sign something for you."

Kante's smile faded.

"After the game, I wouldn't mind signing yours!" Jamie Vardy chimed in to back his teammate.