Thehe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta competed in the UK, an young playing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in September 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he took the field in British turf, against Sunderland two months later, he scored. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, indeed, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the city to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in 2017, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I was furious,” the attacker admits, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I have no idea the validity, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, the city, the morning session is set to begin; post-session, the brief trip to Loiu and another trip to England, this time to face Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for Athletic, partly because of the demands of their participation. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
He considered it challenging enough just to earn a spot and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that produced Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in that summer, he went through a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the senior squad but every phase you progress through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a turning point because it shifted the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Strength training. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All the minor details: execute them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact countless occasions. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. He left upset in that year, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day they need someone in your position, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Especially after last year which, at times, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
