Aston Villa immediately began preparing for their FA Cup final against Watford the day after finishing their Championship campaign.
Watford had defeated Wolves 3-2 in the semi-finals.
In the Premier League, Watford had finished 12th.
While their league position was relatively modest, they had secured survival and reached a major cup final.
This was more than enough to satisfy the Watford fans.
Dean Smith dared not underestimate them. As an established Premier League team, Watford's squad was undoubtedly stronger than Aston Villa's on paper.
During training, Smith continued to emphasize defensive solidity and tactical discipline.
The FA Cup final was scheduled for May 19th.
Aston Villa had nearly two weeks to prepare, and during this time, team captain Jack Grealish gradually recovered from his knee injury.
After a rigorous medical examination, Grealish was declared fully fit to play.
This was a massive boost for the squad!
Moreover, Theodore Bjorn's abilities had also significantly improved.
After securing the Championship title, Theodore obtained another Peak Card from his system.
This was Klinsmann's Peak Header Card, representing the Golden Bomber's legendary aerial prowess.
With this card, Theodore's heading ability skyrocketed to 95!
His current attributes were as follows:
Host: Theodore Bjorn
Age: 17
Height: 185 cm (Growing)
Weight: 78 kg
Position: Midfielder
Physical Attributes:
Speed: 72-75 (Training Bonus)
Physicality: 86
Jumping: 71-73 (Training Bonus)
Health: 71-72 (Training Bonus)
Stamina: 80-81 (Training Bonus)
Technical Attributes:
Long Passing: 100 Short
Passing: 69
Through Balls: 68
Curve: 67
Box Finishing: 68
Long Shots: 69
Set Pieces: 69
Heading: 69-95 (Peak Card Bonus)
Penalties: 68
First Touch: 67
Vision: 84
Dribbling: 67
Ball Control: 73
Interceptions: 65
Tackling: 74
Sliding Tackles: 65
Defense: 67
Overall Rating: 79 (Grade: B)
Star Skill Cards: Pirlo's Peak Long Pass Card (Peak) Xabi Alonso's Vision Card (Platinum) Schweinsteiger's Physicality Card (Platinum) Klinsmann's Peak Header Card (Peak).
As a result of his relentless training, Theodore's physical attributes had improved across the board.
With the boost from the Klinsmann card, his heading ability was now lethal!
His overall rating had climbed to 79, edging ever closer to the 80 mark.
Theodore felt a deep sense of satisfaction reviewing his stats.
This new aerial threat meant that in tightly contested matches, he could ghost into the penalty area and punish the opposition with a powerful header.
Beyond the technical increases, Theodore also discovered he had grown two centimeters taller, going from 183 cm to 185 cm.
This added height would give him a distinct advantage in aerial duels.
Matching his new frame, his weight had also filled out to 78 kg, making him even harder to muscle off the ball.
...
Time flew by.
The two weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and before the players knew it, match day was upon them.
The FA Cup final was to be held at England's iconic Wembley Stadium.
The arena was packed to the rafters, a sea of yellow and claret.
Fans had been eagerly anticipating this final for weeks, soaking in the electric atmosphere of the London evening.
7:10 PM.
Inside the Sky Sports gantry, commentator Peter Drudy began announcing the starting lineups.
"Welcome, football fans, to Sky Sports' live coverage of the 2018-2019 FA Cup Final. Aston Villa versus Watford is about to kick off beneath the Wembley arch. Let's take a look at the starting lineups for both sides."
"First up, Aston Villa. Manager Dean Smith has deployed a 4-1-4-1 formation. In goal, we have Lovre Kalinić. The four defenders are Alan Hutton, Tommy Elphick, Tyrone Mings, and Neil Taylor. The lone defensive midfielder is Mile Jedinak. The four attacking midfielders are Theodore Bjorn, Conor Hourihane, John McGinn, and Jack Grealish. Leading the line as the lone striker is Tammy Abraham."
"For Watford, manager Javi Gracia has opted for a 4-4-2. In goal is Heurelho Gomes. The four defenders are José Holebas, Craig Cathcart, Adrian Mariappa, and Kiko Femenía. The four midfielders are Abdoulaye Doucouré, Étienne Capoue, Roberto Pereyra, and Will Hughes. The two strikers are Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu."
"Aston Villa have been in superb form, recently defeating Norwich to secure the Championship title," Drury added.
"Meanwhile, Watford finished a respectable 12th in the Premier League. The players have taken the field, and this FA Cup final is moments away."
Down on the hallowed Wembley turf, Theodore stood at the back of Aston Villa's starting lineup.
The instant his boots touched the grass, the familiar notification chimed in his mind.
[Ding! Mission issued: Win the FA Cup. Ding! Mission reward: Unknown Card.]
"An Unknown Card?" Theodore thought to himself, a wry smile crossing his face. "Sounds pretty mysterious."
After a brief mental chuckle, he quickly refocused his attention on the field.
Following the customary handshakes between the two squads, the tension crackled in the cool air.
With a sharp blast from referee Kevin Friend's whistle, the match officially began.
Aston Villa immediately pressed the attack, showing no fear of their Premier League opponents.
Just three minutes into the game, Theodore showcased his elite physicality.
Facing heavy pressure from two Watford players in midfield, he forcefully carved a path right through their double-team, using his sheer strength to brush them aside.
Regaining his balance, Theodore looked up and unleashed one of his signature long passes, sending the ball soaring deep into the Watford penalty area.
The delivery dropped with pinpoint accuracy near the penalty spot!
Abraham, using his large body to shake off the tight marking of the Watford center-backs, brought the ball under his spell and unleashed a thunderous shot.
The ball slammed violently into the back of the net.
"AND ABRAHAM STRIKES EARLY FOR VILLA!!!" Peter Drury roared into the microphone, his voice echoing the sudden explosion of noise around Wembley.
"A SENSATIONAL START! ASTON VILLA DRAW FIRST BLOOD WITHIN THREE MINUTES!"
"The Championship Golden Boot winner finds the net on the biggest stage," his co-commentator Gary Neville added, his tone filled with admiration.
"And the assist, unsurprisingly, comes from his trusted partner, Theodore Bjorn. Watford's midfield defense was torn apart right there. Roberto Pereyra and Will Hughes severely underestimated the teenager's physical strength. It's 1-0 to the underdogs."
In the stands of Wembley Stadium, half the arena became a bouncing sea of claret and blue.
Aston Villa fans waved their scarves wildly, chanting their anthems into the night.
Up in the VIP box, Aston Villa's sporting director, Jesús García Pitarch, beamed with pride.
The early lead filled him with genuine hope that they could pull off a historic upset.
On the Twitter feed, fans flooded the timeline with excited comments!
[Wow. A goal so early?]
[Villa's attack is relentless today.]
[Abraham and Theo's partnership is lethal. They just know where each other are.]
[Watford's defense is a joke. They can't stop Theo at all.]
[Are Watford even a Premier League team? They look way weaker than Villa.]
[Keep scoring! Crush them!]