‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to scoring with Athletic

Whenhe first time the Athletic striker competed in English soil, an young representing the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in September 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he appeared in British turf, against the English side two months later, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City not long later, indeed, he did it once more. As he revisited to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, also. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they took him off.

“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker says, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Manchester United, the usual talk. I’m not certain the validity, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other

At the facility, the city, the morning session is set to begin; following that, the short journey to Loiu and a further journey to the UK, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a challenging campaign for the team, due in part to the demands of their participation. Defeated late on in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.

In the three years since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway surrounded by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he says.

He considered it challenging enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. The son of the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in that summer, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a demotion and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.

“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you progress through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.

“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it shifted the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then head home, as a youngster does. In the facility, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: perform them.

“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”

Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed in tears in that year, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day they need someone for your role, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|