‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s road from gurney to goals with Athletic Bilbao

Whenhe initial occasion the Athletic striker played in the UK, an young representing the youth squad against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he took the field in British turf, against the Black Cats two months later, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. An excellent finish, too. “Truly,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Thus the club 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. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed agreement, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is about to start; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to the UK, this time to play Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for the club, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.

In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in four decades. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are unique and debuting in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. As the child of the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that produced the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, the cut, a demotion and a call back before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of his career.

“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the first team but each step you advance through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.

“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a turning point because it shifted the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it helps. You adopt practices new to you. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then return home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.

“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”

You also have to play. The striker moved in tears in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone where you play, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after last year which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|