Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he reminisces about the thrilling closing stages of Swansea's stunning fightback triumph against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. The game wrapped up with Galbraith temporarily wearing a spectator's eyewear following the on-field celebration.
With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith cracked the upright with a powerful effort from 25 yards, and his teammate immediately converted the rebound before racing off toward the East Stand to celebrate, with fans swarming the players.
Extraordinary Turnaround
The result capped an incredible turnaround given the Welsh side had been behind 2-0 during the second half. In the euphoria, there was some minor mishaps. Galbraith explained, "There was a supporter trying to get our attention and Josh Key and I were wondering: 'What's he on about here?' Then we noticed the glasses. It was a light-hearted moment putting them on. We are on the pitch as players but we're humans, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."
Manchester City Challenge
That win secured a upcoming game at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, a team Galbraith came close against at the same stage of the FA Cup with his former club in February. He had an excellent perspective when the underdogs took the lead in stunning style, with a teammate's long-range effort from about way out going in via the crossbar and the City goalkeeper. It feels criminal that it was deemed an own goal.
"You would have wished they would've awarded it to him for taking the effort on from that distance," says Galbraith, who began the game centrally before switching to right wing-back after Orient changed formation. That meant competing with Jack Grealish, with whom he traded tops, and the winger was among the City players who praised the way Orient played positively.
City's Quality
"Fitness-wise they are exceptional but even the basics and routine actions, they can just do it over and over again," the midfielder notes. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they know how to manage and take the sting out of a game. You can think you're doing well and then abruptly they will just thread a ball past your midfield without you even spotting it. You have to be switched on throughout of the game. It demands a resilient mindset and attention just to stay in the game."
Welsh Transition
The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to sign him in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He became a favorite as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Leyton Orient and has quickly replicated that in Wales. At his previous team he reunited with his former manager, who four years ago gave Galbraith his initial sustained opportunity in professional games on loan at his loan club from Old Trafford. Then came a spell at lower division Salford, before he permanently left his boyhood club.
Learning Curve
"I was perhaps a slightly green going into senior level. I think many athletes would say youth team games is very different. Sometimes it seems play is circulated without much intensity. You see few tackles or duels. Once you start playing first-team football you have to adapt rapidly."
International Recognition
He has demonstrated that development for both domestically and internationally, performing well for his national side, who remain in contention for the World Cup next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has been selected in the past five games, including two matches games against Germany. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's previous international manager, paid him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he handles the football and his eye for a killer pass.
Starting Out
This represents quite the ride for the player from the local area in his hometown, just outside the capital, who grew up watching his parent, the elder Galbraith, also a midfielder, play for Ballyclare Comrades.
Manchester United Experience
His only game for the Red Devils came in the away trip in 2019, a Europa League trip to the Kazakh capital, where they played on an artificial pitch and the venue ceiling was sealed owing to the weather of bitter cold. "That proved to be a long trip and it was cold out there," he comments, chuckling. "The preceding week, several youth players and I practiced as a group, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to travel with the first team and get a couple of minutes at the end was unbelievable."
Leaving United
What was the challenge was it to depart Manchester United, the club he signed from his boyhood team aged a teenager? "It was fairly simple, because I reached the point where I knew I couldn't establish myself at the top level. I'm extremely thankful for the experience gained but it got to the point where I felt I had to take a different path, move to a lower level and play men's football. Now I'm slowly working my way back up."
Welsh Adaptation
It is mid-afternoon at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has an appointment at late afternoon: a driving theory test, another step towards getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the 24-year-old was a frequent passenger in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a minibus driven by team personnel, Pete and Howard, which transports players to and from training and matches.
"I travel with the Portuguese player, Ronald, the midfielder – a former passenger used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to interact with the lads but I'm aiming to be the subsequent individual to stop using the bus and behind the wheel. His teammate is known for his humor; he's constantly causing mischief."
Fan Interactions
When he represented Leyton Orient, Galbraith would blend in with fans on public transport after beginning his trip at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim
