‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to goals with Athletic
Thehe initial occasion the Spanish forward played in England, an 18-year-old representing the youth squad against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he found the net. The second time he played in British turf, against the Black Cats following that, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City soon after, sure enough, he scored again. As he revisited to the city to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in 2017, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, also. “In fact,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker admits, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the second half: I was without a signed deal, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea the validity, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at the club. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is about to start; after it, the quick travel to Loiu and another flight to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the team, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. However, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. He’s now the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
The player believed it difficult enough just to make the first team and that proved true. The son of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the senior squad but every phase you progress through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his first game and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as something positive because it forced me to alter the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and when eventually they need someone for your role, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, sometimes, was involved suffering. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|