‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to goals with the Basque club

Whenhe debut appearance the Athletic striker featured in the UK, an teenage playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he scored. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against Sunderland weeks after, he netted. Another occasion, against Manchester City not long later, well, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the northwest to face United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, as well. “Actually,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: they took him off.

“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker says, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, I kept finding the net, 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. It’s unclear how true it was, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”

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At the facility, the Basque Country, the early training is about to start; following that, the quick travel to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Just saying those two words lights him up. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for the team, due in part to the requirements of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.

In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a domestic final by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Now he is the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the former star and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he suffered a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a return before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.

“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the top level but every phase you go through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his debut and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and my knee gave way.

“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as something positive because it shifted the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You develop habits previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, address that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.

“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact repeatedly. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

You also have to play. The striker moved in tears in 2020, aged 23, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, work, believe, and should the time come the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, sometimes, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|