‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s journey from gurney to goals with Athletic
The debut appearance the Spanish forward featured in English soil, an 18-year-old appearing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in September 2015, he scored. The second time he played in the country, against Sunderland two months later, he converted. His third outing, against the Citizens soon after, indeed, he scored again. When he returned to the city to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, also. “In fact,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did their duty: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the attacker says, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I performed well. They kept me out of the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; post-session, the brief trip to Loiu and another flight to Britain, now to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for the team, partially owing to 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 been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. Yet, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates a final at home by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are unique and debuting in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
The player believed it hard enough just to make the first team and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in that summer, he suffered a torn cruciate, dropped, a demotion and a return before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the first team but with every stage you advance through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his debut and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the outlook. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then head home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles repeatedly. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. He left upset in 2020, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he netted three goals in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come a vacancy arises where you play, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the prior campaign which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
