‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from gurney to success with the Basque club
Whenhe first time the Athletic striker featured in the UK, an young playing for the youth squad against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he played in the country, against Sunderland two months later, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he scored again. As he revisited to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, too. “Actually,” he says, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I was without a signed deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
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 Loiu and another trip to the UK, this time to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Uttering the name lights him up. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the club, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a final at home by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Now he is the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.
He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. As the child of the one-time rival player the former professional and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the top level but every phase you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his bow and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as something positive because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed emotionally in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and if one day they need someone in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
