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Luton Town has drawn Chelsea in the FA Cup. To most, this seems like a routine matchup between a Premier League giant and a lower-tier Second Division team, with little doubt that Chelsea will progress to the fourth round.

However, for the town of Luton, this was big news. While Gao Bo's career history might not attract much attention in England, Luton fans knew it well. Gao Bo, who had led Chelsea's U18 team to victory in the FA Youth Cup, was unceremoniously dismissed by Chelsea afterward. Ironically, this twist of fate paved the way for his journey to Luton. Many fans believed that if Gao Bo hadn't lost his job, their club might never have had the chance to write this success story.

The Luton players were fascinated by Gao Bo's history at Chelsea, but out of respect—and a little fear—they refrained from discussing it in front of him. Yet, among the squad, "undercover agent" Jeffrey often embellished stories about Gao Bo's Chelsea days, leaving his teammates amazed and inspired.

In November, Gao Bo was once again awarded Second Division Manager of the Month, but he didn't let the accolade distract him. His focus remained on preparing for the team's next games, with the FA Cup clash against Chelsea still a month away. December, with its grueling schedule of seven league matches, demanded even more attention. This was particularly true given the notorious holiday fixture congestion: Luton had two matches scheduled just two days apart after Christmas. Their appeal to the FA for a schedule adjustment was rejected, sparking outrage from Gao Bo.

Before a December 6 home game against Barnet, Gao Bo vented his frustration at the pre-match press conference:

"We only get two days of rest, while our opponents have four. It's completely unfair. I don't know what the people who made this schedule were thinking—maybe their heads are full of shit. They clearly didn't consider player recovery when creating this fixture list."

This uncharacteristically fiery remark shocked the press. Gao Bo, typically diplomatic, had now made headlines with his candid outburst.

During the match, reporters seemed distracted, their focus more on Gao Bo's comments than the game itself. On the pitch, Luton made light work of Barnet. Charlie Austin opened the scoring in the first half, Jamie Vardy doubled the lead in the second, and substitute Matt Schmidt sealed the 3-0 victory in the 80th minute. Barnet, sitting near the relegation zone, posed little threat.

Post-match coverage was dominated by Gao Bo's "shit" comment, with major outlets and even the BBC's Match of the Day discussing it. Host Gary Lineker, known for his humor, remarked:

"Luton's Chinese head coach, Gao Bo, claimed that FA officials have shit in their heads. Uh… Coach Gao, sometimes being too honest isn't the best approach. That's my advice."

The comment drew laughs, but for Gao Bo, the media attention was unwelcome.

Sure enough, the FA acted swiftly, issuing a warning and fining him £5,000 the next day.

The controversy didn't derail Luton's form. On December 13, they faced league leaders Wycombe Wanderers. Despite trailing Wycombe by 16 points due to a 30-point penalty earlier in the season, Luton were eager to prove their mettle. Both teams entered the match unbeaten, but Luton's record of 18 wins and 1 draw dwarfed Wycombe's 11 wins and 8 draws.

Wycombe's coach dubbed it "the highest-level match of the Second Division this season," adding qualifiers that did little to dampen the anticipation of fans.

From the outset, it was clear that Wycombe, despite their aggressive start, were outmatched. In the 4th minute, N'Golo Kanté won possession in midfield and passed to Kevin Keane, who quickly found Danny Drinkwater. Without hesitation, Drinkwater sent a through ball to Jamie Vardy, who turned and fired a stunning right-footed shot into the net. Luton led 1-0.

Wycombe struggled to cope with Luton's intensity. In the 18th minute, another turnover in midfield led to a long ball from Drinkwater. Vardy broke through the defense, dribbled into the box, and squared it for Charlie Austin to tap into an empty net.

By halftime, Luton had built a 3-0 lead. The second half was more subdued, with both sides making substitutions. In the 68th minute, Kevin Keane's long-range strike added a fourth, sealing an emphatic 4-0 victory for Luton.

Gao Bo barely left his seat on the bench, exuding calm confidence as his team dismantled the league leaders.

Wycombe Wanderers, the supposed top team, were left humbled at home. Luton's performance sent a clear message:

"League leaders? Just another team to conquer."