Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he recalls the nail-biting final moments of Swansea's epic comeback victory against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The encounter wrapped up with Galbraith briefly donning a spectator's eyewear following the pitch-side pile-on.
During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a long-range shot from distance, and the defender promptly slammed home the rebound before racing off toward the home end to celebrate, with fans congregating around the players.
Stunning Reversal
The result capped an extraordinary turnaround given the team had been behind 2-0 deep into the second half. Amid the euphoria, there was some minor mishaps. He shared, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were wondering: 'What's he on about here?' Then we spotted the glasses. It was a bit of banter putting them on. We are on the pitch as athletes but we're individuals, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."
Manchester City Challenge
That win earned a upcoming fixture at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, a club Galbraith came close against at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with his former club in February. Galbraith had a prime vantage point when the underdogs took the lead in spectacular fashion, with Jamie Donley's first-time shot from about 45 yards going in via the woodwork and the City goalkeeper. It seems unfair that it was deemed an own goal.
"You would have expected they would've credited him for attempting the shot from that distance," stated Galbraith, who played in the middle before shifting to right defensive wing after the team changed formation. That meant facing off against Jack Grealish, with whom he traded tops, and the player was among the City players who complimented the way Orient attacked the game.
Guardiola's System
"Fitness-wise they are exceptional but even the fundamentals and basic skills, they can just do it over and over again," he explains. "It appears that they complete every delivery and they are adept at control and slow down a game. You can feel you're holding your own and then abruptly they will just thread a ball between defenders without you even seeing. You have to be focused throughout of the game. It demands a resilient mindset and concentration just to keep pace."
New Chapter
The Welsh side pushed to sign Galbraith in January and secured his signature to bring him in in the summer in a significant move. He made a name as a fans' favourite across multiple campaigns at his former club and has swiftly replicated that in south Wales. At the London club he linked up again with his former manager, who previously gave Galbraith his first extended run in senior football on loan at Doncaster from Manchester United. Then came a loan at lower division Salford, before he departed Manchester United.
Learning Curve
"I was likely a bit naive going into senior level. I think a lot of players would say youth team games is very different. Sometimes it appears play is circulated without much intensity. There's not many physical contests. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adapt rapidly."
International Recognition
He has demonstrated that development for his team and nation, shining for his national side, who could still reach the global tournament next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has started the past five games, including two matches games against a football powerhouse. The ex-coach, Galbraith's previous international manager, paid him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he controls possession and his knack for a game-changing assist.
Starting Out
It has been quite the ride for the player from the local area in Glengormley, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who used to see his father, his father, also a central player, play for Ballyclare Comrades.
Old Trafford Memory
Galbraith's only game for the Red Devils came in the away trip in 2019, a European competition trip to the host city, where they played on an plastic turf and the stadium roof was shut owing to temperatures of freezing cold. "It was a extended travel and it was chilly," he recalls, chuckling. "The days leading up, myself and quite a few of the young lads worked out jointly, so that assisted our preparation. Just to travel with the first team and get a couple of minutes at the end was amazing."
Moving On
How hard was it to leave United, the club he transferred from aged 16? "It was quite easy, because I reached the point where I realized I wasn't going to make it at the senior squad. I'm hugely grateful for the experience gained but it reached a stage where I thought I had to take a different path, drop down the leagues and play men's football. Now I'm steadily working my way back up."
New Environment
This occurs during the early part of the afternoon at the club's training ground but Galbraith has somewhere to be at 5pm: a learner's exam, another step towards getting on the road. Until recently to Sketty, the young professional was a constant rider in Swansea's nicknamed team minibus, a minibus driven by academy staff, the transport team, which transports players to and from training and matches.
"I travel with a teammate, Ronald, the midfielder – a former passenger used to be in it but has got his license. It's nice to socialize with the lads but I'm planning to be the following person to stop using the bus and on the road. The Portuguese player is known for his humor; he's frequently playing tricks."
Public Engagement
When he represented his former club, Galbraith would travel alongside fans on the Tube after starting his journey at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim