‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to goals with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in English soil, an young appearing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in fall 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in the country, against Sunderland two months later, he converted. Another occasion, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “Actually,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. It’s unclear how true it was, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash
At the training ground, the city, the early training is about to start; post-session, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to the UK, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the UCL on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the pressures of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway surrounded by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player his father and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that developed the Arsenal manager, the former star and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a call back before he could earn his place, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you progress through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I tear my cruciate.
“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact countless occasions. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. The striker moved emotionally in the pandemic season, aged 23, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and should the time come they need someone for your role, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
