‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from gurney to success with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe initial occasion the Athletic striker featured in the UK, an teenage appearing for the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he hit the target. On his next visit he took the field in England, against Sunderland weeks after, he converted. The third time, against the Citizens not long later, sure enough, he did it once more. As he revisited to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I have no idea if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to the airport and another flight to the UK, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It has become a tough year for the club, partly because of the pressures of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. But, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a final at home by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway accompanied by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are distinctive and debuting in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that developed the Arsenal manager, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he experienced a torn cruciate, dropped, a demotion and a call back before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the first team but each step you progress through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” 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]. Several appearances there and I tear my cruciate.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then head home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players repeatedly. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. The striker moved emotionally in that year, at 23 years old, 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. “Players go through it: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day a vacancy arises for your role, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. All the more so after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
