‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from injury table to success with Athletic
Whenhe initial occasion the Spanish forward featured in England, an young appearing for the youth squad against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against the English side two months later, he converted. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he did it once more. As he revisited to the city to face United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he scored again. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the forward admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, the city, the early training is ready to commence; post-session, the short journey to Loiu airport and a further journey to Britain, now to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Just saying those two words lights him up. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the club, partly because of the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge up the Nervión estuary flanked by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in a long wait. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are unique and returning after absence in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
He considered it challenging enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that produced Mikel Arteta, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but each step you go through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and my knee gave way.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as something positive because it forced me to alter the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it aids growth. You develop habits new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, you have everything, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, address that. With decent ankle function, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
Minutes are crucial. He left emotionally in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he scored three times in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day the requirement appears where you play, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
