‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to goals with Athletic
Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an young playing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he appeared in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. The third time, against Manchester City not long later, sure enough, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he scored again. An excellent finish, as well. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did their duty: they took him off.
“I was furious,” the Athletic striker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. 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, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the typical thing. It’s unclear how true it was, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the morning session is ready to commence; following that, the brief trip to Loiu airport and another flight to the UK, this time to face Newcastle in the UCL on Wednesday. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partly because of the demands of being here. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. But, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway accompanied by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. The son of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in that summer, he suffered a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a return before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the first team but with every stage you progress through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the outlook. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then return home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, all resources are available, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, address that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. Every small aspect: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. He left in tears in that year, aged 23, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in that season, he got three strikes in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and should the time come a vacancy arises for your role, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Especially after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
