"This is not an upset!"
That was the defiant declaration from Ethan — and by the next morning, his words had become the headline splashed across newspapers across England.
Though many outlets chose the headline "This is not an upset," their coverage told a different story. Across back pages and sports columns, this FA Cup clash was labeled one of the biggest shocks in recent memory.
FA Cup surprises aren't exactly rare — lower league teams defeating top-flight giants is part of the tournament's magic. But a 4–0 demolition of Manchester City by Luton Town? That's not just an upset — it's a statement.
"This wasn't a fluke," one analyst wrote. "Luton didn't just ride their luck — they systematically dismantled City. While the Premier League side held more possession, Luton led in virtually every meaningful statistic: total shots, shots on target, key passes in the final third, total distance covered, and even defensive metrics like interceptions and tackles won. The scoreline — four to nil — says it all."
Team News led with the story on the front page of their sports section. Across the country, the footballing world was in disbelief.
"I never thought I'd see Manchester City lose like that," said Sir Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United boss, smirking in front of reporters. "Ethan and his side have done something incredible. Honestly? I think they've got a real shot at winning the whole thing."
Arsène Wenger echoed the sentiment. "I don't think any of us want to face Luton right now," said the Arsenal manager. "What Ethan has done with that squad is phenomenal. To build such a disciplined, tactically sharp side in the second tier... it's outstanding."
Gary Lineker, hosting BBC's Match of the Day, dedicated over 30 minutes to a detailed breakdown of Luton's journey so far.
"After eliminating Chelsea and now hammering City, you simply can't ignore them," he said. "They've earned their place in the quarterfinals. The big question now is: how far can they go?"
That night, all eight fifth-round ties had been completed — with no replays needed, a rare occurrence in the modern FA Cup.
Quarterfinalists:
Luton Town
Coventry City
Fulham
Middlesbrough
Hull City
Everton
Liverpool
Arsenal
Among them, Luton are the only team from outside the Championship or Premier League. With the exception of Coventry — themselves a Championship side — the rest are all Premier League clubs.
While the FA Cup is known for surprises, deep runs are usually reserved for the top-tier clubs. One upset is always possible, but consistent wins against elite teams require real quality — and Luton, somehow, are showing they have it.
Back in the club's modest office after training, Ethan and his coaching staff huddled around a small television, watching the quarterfinal draw unfold.
No matter who they face next, reaching this stage is already a stunning achievement. At the start of the season, Luton were docked 30 points in the league — a massive penalty that made simple survival the priority. But now, they're just three games away from lifting the FA Cup.
For Ethan, this is more than a cup run — it's a mission. Beyond the glory, winning the FA Cup would earn them a spot in next season's UEFA Europa League. If their promotion push succeeds, Luton could find themselves competing in Europe as a newly promoted side — a dream scenario.
And for Ethan, it's also personal — victory would unlock unimaginable rewards through his mysterious "card system." But more than anything, it would cement Luton Town's place in football folklore.
The thought of such a challenge made Ethan tremble with excitement.
John Aston, however, was more cautious than Ethan. Of course, winning the FA Cup would be ideal—but he knew how tough the competition still was.
"I just hope we get a favorable draw in the quarter-finals..." he muttered.
Luck seemed to smile on Luton Town. They avoided heavyweights like Chelsea and Manchester City, but the quarter-finals still included giants like Arsenal and Liverpool—two teams John wasn't keen on facing.
"I hope we draw Coventry!" said Lin Sen hopefully. Coventry City, alongside Luton, were considered the weakest teams left in the competition.
At that moment, the FA Cup draw was already underway—and the first team drawn was indeed Coventry.
Everyone on the coaching staff turned to look at Lin Sen. Even Lin himself was stunned. Could it really be that much of a coincidence?
But sure enough, fate—or fortune—had intervened.
The guest announcer continued the draw, revealing Coventry's opponent.
"Luton Town!"
Cheers erupted in the office. John Aston was so elated he almost planted a kiss on Lin Sen, causing the younger man to back away in alarm.
"Lin, did you use some kind of witchcraft?" he joked.
Mel Donald was equally ecstatic.
It might have sounded a bit arrogant, but given Luton's incredible form this season—even while still in League Two—they had already proven their mettle by eliminating Premier League teams like Chelsea and Manchester City in earlier rounds of the FA Cup and League Cup. Compared to them, Coventry City posed far less of a threat.
Kobo was also visibly relieved. Drawing Coventry was certainly preferable to facing Arsenal or Liverpool.
"Alright! Our goal is clear—we're going to beat Coventry and reach the semi-finals!" Ethan announced, brimming with confidence, even before the full draw had concluded.
The rest of the quarter-final matchups were then revealed:
Liverpool vs. Fulham
Everton vs. Middlesbrough (at Goodison Park)
Arsenal vs. Hull City
After the draw, the BBC's live broadcast didn't end right away. Instead, the pundits began predicting who would reach the semi-finals.
"I think the final four will be Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Luton," said one of the studio guests.
He wasn't alone. Even Gary Lineker agreed: "It's hard to see Coventry beating Luton. Yes, they're two leagues above them, but just look at Luton's form. They're the sharks of League Two. If not for that 30-point deduction earlier this season, they'd be breaking records in the division!"
In the long history of the FA Cup, rarely had a lower-league team drawn this much optimism—but Luton were writing a story that felt different.