‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from injury table to goals with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe debut appearance the Athletic striker played in the UK, an teenage playing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he played in the country, against the Black Cats weeks after, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City not long later, sure enough, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Thus the club did their duty: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another flight to the UK, now to face Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a tough year for the team, due in part to the demands of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a domestic final by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it difficult enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the coach, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a recall before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of his career.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the first team but every phase you advance through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in six games between his bow and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as a turning point because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. You develop habits new to you. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, address that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players repeatedly. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. He left upset in that year, aged 23, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, 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 when eventually the requirement appears in your position, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
