Ethan Galbraith grins broadly as he remembers the thrilling closing stages of his team's remarkable turnaround win against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. That match ended with Galbraith temporarily wearing a fan's glasses after the on-field celebration.
With the clock ticking into the 97th minute, Galbraith cracked the upright with a powerful strike from 25 yards, and the defender quickly slammed home the loose ball before sprinting toward the home end to celebrate, with supporters congregating around the players.
Stunning Reversal
The result sealed an unbelievable comeback given Swansea had been behind 2-0 during the latter period. In the delirium, there was some unintended consequences. He shared, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we saw the glasses. It was a light-hearted moment putting them on. We are on the pitch as footballers but we're humans, too, so to have a joke with the fans is always good."
Manchester City Challenge
That win booked a upcoming fixture at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, opponents Galbraith came close against at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with his former club in February. He had a prime vantage point when his former team took the lead in spectacular fashion, with the attacker's first-time shot from about long distance going in via the crossbar and the opposition keeper. Many argued that it was credited as an own goal.
"You would have wished they would've credited him for having a go from that range," commented Galbraith, who began the game centrally before switching to right wing-back after the team changed tactics. That meant getting to grips with City's winger, with whom he traded tops, and the attacker was among the Manchester squad who complimented the way his former team played positively.
City's Quality
"Athletically they are outstanding but even the simple things and routine actions, they can just execute repeatedly," the midfielder notes. "It appears that they never miss a pass and they understand how to control and slow down a game. You can think you're doing well and then abruptly they will just thread a ball past your midfield without you even seeing. You have to be alert every second of the game. It takes a resilient mindset and concentration just to remain competitive."
Welsh Transition
Swansea sought to acquire Galbraith in January and secured his signature to bring him in in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He established himself as a crowd pleaser across two seasons at Leyton Orient and has rapidly achieved similar status in Wales. At his previous team he joined forces once more with the coach, who four years ago gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in first-team action on loan at a League One side from United. Then came a spell at lower division the Manchester club, before he permanently left his boyhood club.
Learning Curve
"I was perhaps a slightly green going into men's football. I think a lot of players would say development squad matches is entirely separate. Sometimes it seems the ball is moved without real physicality. There are limited physical contests. Once you start playing men's games you have to learn quickly."
National Team Success
He has demonstrated that growth for club and country, performing well for his national side, who remain in contention for the international competition next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has featured in the recent fixtures, including both legs fixtures against the German national team. The ex-coach, Galbraith's former international manager, gave him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he controls possession and his eye for a killer pass.
Humble Beginnings
It has been an incredible journey for the player from the neighborhood in Glengormley, just outside the capital, who was raised observing his parent, his father, also a midfielder, play for a local club.
Manchester United Experience
Galbraith's sole appearance for the Red Devils came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a European competition trip to the Kazakh capital, where they played on an artificial pitch and the arena covering was shut owing to the weather of freezing cold. "This represented a lengthy journey and it was cold out there," he comments, grinning. "The week before, 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 earn some playing time at the end was unbelievable."
Moving On
What was the challenge was it to move on from Old Trafford, the club he transferred from aged his mid-teens? "It was fairly simple, because I arrived at the moment where I knew I couldn't establish myself at first-team level. I'm hugely grateful for the experience gained but it got to the point where I believed I had to take a different path, join a smaller club and play first-team games. Now I'm slowly climbing the ladder."
New Environment
It is the middle of the day at Swansea's Fairwood training base but Galbraith has somewhere to be at late afternoon: a learner's exam, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Prior to relocating to Sketty, the 24-year-old was a constant rider in Swansea's dubbed team minibus, a team vehicle driven by academy staff, Pete and Howard, which transports players to and from training and matches.
"It's myself the Portuguese player, Ronald, Malick Yalcouyé – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has started driving. It's enjoyable to interact with the lads but I'm hoping to be the next one to stop using the bus and on the road. Franco likes to pull a few pranks; he's frequently playing tricks."
Fan Interactions
While playing for Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside supporters on the Tube after commuting at the area he lived in. "I tried|I attempted|My aim
