‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe first time the Spanish forward played in English soil, an young representing the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. The second time he appeared in the country, against the Black Cats following that, he converted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, well, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the city to face United at the sports complex in 2017, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “In fact,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did their duty: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the attacker says, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; following that, the quick travel to Loiu and another flight to Britain, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the team, partially owing to the pressures of being here. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river accompanied by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, dropped, a drop in category and a recall before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the top level but each step you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his bow and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a turning point because it made me change the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then head home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, you have everything, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles repeatedly. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. He left emotionally in that year, aged 23, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he scored three times in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
