‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from gurney to goals with Athletic Bilbao

Whenhe initial occasion the Athletic striker played in the UK, an teenage appearing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in September 2015, he found the net. The second time he appeared in the country, against the English side two months later, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens not long later, sure enough, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, as well. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: he was replaced.

“I was furious,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I have no idea if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At Lezama, the city, the day’s first practice is about to start; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to the UK, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. But, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.

In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a final at home by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary flanked by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. He’s now the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.

Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. The son of the one-time rival player his father and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he experienced a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a call back before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.

“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but each step you progress through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and I suffered the ACL injury.

“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as something positive because it made me change the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, work on that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: execute them.

“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players countless occasions. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

Game time is essential. The striker moved upset in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and should the time come they need someone for your role, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the previous season which, sometimes, was involved suffering. From top scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|