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A new day of training began, and with the ambition of achieving promotion, Gao Bo threw himself into his work with boundless enthusiasm.

For most, the idea of promotion seemed like a pipe dream for Luton Town, who were starting the season with a 30-point deduction. But not for Gao Bo.

In League Two, four teams earn promotion to League One. The top three teams are promoted automatically, while the fourth spot is determined through playoffs involving teams ranked third to seventh.

This meant Luton's most realistic goal was to finish at least seventh. Securing a seventh-place finish would grant them a shot at the promotion playoffs, giving them a chance to create a miracle.

How difficult would it be to achieve seventh place?

Gao Bo had analyzed the points totals of teams that had finished seventh in recent League Two seasons. The previous season, Wycombe Wanderers finished seventh with 69 points. In 2006-2007, the seventh-placed team, Shrewsbury Town, had 71 points, and in 2005-2006, Lincoln City finished seventh with 70 points.

In most seasons, 70 points would secure a seventh-place finish. Gao Bo, however, didn't want to leave anything to chance. He set a higher target: 75 points or more.

Without the 30-point deduction, Gao Bo was confident in Luton's ability to achieve 75 points. But under the current circumstances, this meant the team needed to amass a staggering 105 points over the season.

With 24 teams in League Two playing 46 matches, the maximum theoretical points total was 138. But no team could realistically win every match. Factors like injuries, form, tactical decisions, and even weather played significant roles throughout a season.

Historically, League Two champions had achieved points totals around the 90-point mark. For Luton to secure 105 points, they would need to surpass the best performances of any previous champions.

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With Jeffrey joining the squad, Gao Bo had a clearer picture of his starting lineup, allowing the team to focus on implementing overall tactical strategies.

Gao Bo's tactical approach drew inspiration from Sacchi's legendary AC Milan team, employing a 4-4-2 formation that compressed space and demanded cohesion across all three lines of play, both defensively and offensively.

Sacchi's philosophy of "if our forwards and defenders stay within 25 meters, we are invincible" greatly influenced modern football. His Milan team epitomized high pressing and all-out attack and defense. The team's ability to press high up the pitch, combined with the impeccable organization of a backline led by Baresi, rendered countless forwards helpless. Legend had it that Baresi's hand gesture for offside was so reliable that officials trusted it blindly. Some even joked that FIFA adjusted the offside rule because Milan's offside trap was too dominant.

While the 4-4-2 formation gradually fell out of favor in later years, Simeone revived it at Atlético Madrid. Simeone's version of the 4-4-2 abandoned the traditional use of wide wingers, instead employing full-backs who tucked into central areas. This resulted in a compact, disciplined, and defensively robust system, making Atlético one of Europe's strongest defensive teams.

Offensively, Gao Bo sought to blend Sacchi's and Simeone's principles with his own ideas. His forwards were tasked with initiating high pressing, forcing turnovers in advanced areas to create counterattacking opportunities. In possession, the team focused on quick, incisive passing to penetrate the opposition's defensive structure, aiming to create scoring chances within seven passes.

Gao Bo's coaching philosophy wasn't tied to any particular tactical system. His priority was always to adopt strategies that best suited his players and maximized their chances of winning.

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In training, the players brought in by Gao Bo began to shine.

Up front, Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin showcased their goal-scoring prowess, leaving no doubt about their quality. In midfield, N'Golo Kanté and Danny Drinkwater formed a formidable partnership. Kanté's tireless tackling ability earned the respect of teammates, who marveled at how a player shorter than Messi could dominate defensively.

With the team progressing smoothly in training, Gao Bo scheduled a warm-up match against Oxford United, a fifth-tier team, to assess their progress. The match was held at Luton's training ground, with no fans or journalists in attendance.

Gao Bo used the first half to test his fringe players, giving them an opportunity to prove themselves. However, they struggled, and Luton trailed 0-3 by halftime.

Shaking his head on the sidelines, Gao Bo realized the extent of the club's predicament. After being relegated and selling off their main players, the remaining squad lacked the quality to compete, even against a fifth-tier team.

In the second half, Gao Bo replaced the entire starting eleven with his preferred lineup.

The team featured young goalkeeper Claude Rondo, now the first-choice keeper following Luton's relegation. At center-back, Jeffrey partnered with George Parker, forming a complementary pairing with Parker's solid positioning and Jeffrey's physicality and aerial ability. Full-backs Mitchell Piren and Solo Davis brought versatility and dynamism, though Gao Bo privately referred to Davis as "Luton's Marcelo" for his attacking tendencies.

In midfield, the Kanté-Drinkwater duo provided stability, while captain Kevin Keane and Lewis Emmanuel added defensive and offensive balance on the flanks. Up front, Vardy and Austin led the attack.

The second half was a transformation. Luton's relentless high press suffocated Oxford United, forcing errors that led to two quick goals from Vardy and Austin. Vardy completed a hat-trick, and Austin added another goal. Substitute Matt Schmidt also found the net with a header from a corner, sealing a 6-3 comeback victory.

After the match, Gao Bo turned to his assistant, John Aston, and declared with a smile, "See, John! This is our football! Football that wins!"