‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from rehabilitation to scoring with the Basque club
The debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he appeared in England, against the Black Cats two months later, he netted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team soon after, well, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I was furious,” the forward says, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed deal, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; following that, the brief trip to the airport and a further journey to Britain, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a challenging campaign for the team, due in part to the pressures of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in European competition. Yet, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his top-level debut in that summer, he went through a serious knee problem, dropped, a demotion and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the top level but with every stage you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … 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]. Five, six games with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a turning point because it made me change the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it helps. You adopt practices you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. Every small aspect: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. He left upset in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, work, believe, and should the time come they need someone in your position, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
