‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to goals with Athletic
The first time Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he played in British turf, against Sunderland two months later, he netted. The third time, against the Citizens soon after, sure enough, he did it once more. As he revisited to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in 2017, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, as well. “In fact,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the forward admits, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the latter period: I was without a signed deal, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain how true it was, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the facility, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to Loiu and another flight to Britain, now to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a challenging campaign for the club, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. However, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway flanked by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are unique and returning after absence in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
The player believed it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the one-time rival player his father and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he suffered a ACL injury, dropped, a demotion and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the first team but with every stage you advance through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his bow and February 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as something positive because it made me change the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Strength training. With hip imbalance, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All the minor details: execute them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. The striker moved upset in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and when eventually a vacancy arises in your position, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|