'It's like they never miss a pass': The Swans' Ethan Galbraith resumes battle with Pep's side.

Ethan Galbraith breaks into a smile as he recalls the thrilling closing stages of Swansea's stunning fightback victory against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. The game wrapped up with Galbraith temporarily wearing a supporter's spectacles following the on-field celebration.

As the match entered added time, Galbraith cracked the upright with a speculative shot from 25 yards, and Cameron Burgess quickly converted the rebound before sprinting toward the East Stand to celebrate, with supporters mobbing the players.

Extraordinary Turnaround

The result capped an incredible turnaround given the team had found themselves down 2-0 midway through the final 45 minutes. In the celebrations, there was some minor mishaps. He shared, "There was a spectator shouting out and Josh Key and I were puzzled: '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 athletes but we're people, too, so to have a laugh with the fans is always good."

Premier League Giants

That win secured a upcoming match at home against the Premier League champions on Wednesday, a team Galbraith ran close at the same stage of the FA Cup with the London side in February. The athletic midfielder had arguably the best view when Orient took the lead in spectacular fashion, with the attacker's first-time shot from about long distance going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. Many argued that it was deemed an own goal.

"You would have expected they would've credited him for attempting the shot from that far out," says Galbraith, who began the game centrally before switching to right defensive wing after Orient changed shape. That meant getting to grips with City's winger, with whom he swapped shirts, and the attacker was among the City players who praised the way his former team attacked the game.

City's Quality

"Fitness-wise they are exceptional but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just perform consistently," he explains. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they are adept at control and slow down a game. You can believe you're holding your own and then suddenly they will just deliver a through ball past your midfield without you even seeing. You have to be switched on every second of the game. It demands a strong mentality and focus just to stay in the game."

New Chapter

The club pushed to sign Galbraith in January and secured his signature to secure him in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He became a favorite as a crowd pleaser across multiple campaigns at his former club and has swiftly replicated that in his new home. At his previous team he reunited with the coach, who four years ago gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in professional games on loan at his loan club from Old Trafford. Then came a loan at lower division Salford City, before he moved on from Old Trafford.

Learning Curve

"I was perhaps a slightly green going into men's football. I think a lot of players would say under-23s football is entirely separate. Sometimes it appears possession is exchanged without real physicality. You see few physical contests. Once you start playing men's games you have to adjust fast."

International Recognition

He has shown that development for both domestically and internationally, shining for his national side, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has featured in the past five games, including two matches games against the German national team. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's former international manager, offered the ultimate compliment, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he manipulates the ball and his ability to spot a game-changing assist.

Early Days

This represents quite the ride for the kid from the Queens Park estate in Glengormley, just outside Belfast, who grew up watching his dad, Stuart, also a central player, play for his father's team.

Old Trafford Memory

Galbraith's single match for United came in Central Asia in 2019, a European competition trip to the Kazakh capital, where they competed on an artificial pitch and the arena covering was shut owing to temperatures of -15C. "It was a lengthy journey and it was cold out there," he says, chuckling. "The days leading up, the academy prospects trained together, so that aided our adjustment. Just to accompany the senior squad and get a couple of minutes at the end was amazing."

Moving On

How hard was it to depart Manchester United, the club he transferred from aged a teenager? "The decision proved fairly simple, because I reached the point where I realized I couldn't establish myself at first-team level. I'm hugely grateful for the time I spent there but it got to the point where I felt I had to take a different path, move to a lower level and play professional soccer. Now I'm steadily working my way back up."

Welsh Adaptation

It is the early part of the afternoon at the club's training ground but Galbraith has a commitment at 5pm: a driving theory test, another move in the direction of getting on the road. Prior to relocating to Sketty, the young professional was a regular in Swansea's so-called team minibus, a small coach driven by team personnel, Pete and Howard, which shuttles players to and from practice and games.

"I travel with a teammate, Ronald, an Ivorian player – the Swedish defender used to be in it but has started driving. It's nice to interact with the lads but I'm hoping to be the following person to stop using the bus and behind the wheel. Franco is known for his humor; he's constantly causing mischief."

Public Engagement

While playing for Leyton Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside fans on London's Central line after commuting at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim