‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to scoring with Athletic Bilbao

Whenhe debut appearance the Spanish forward competed in English soil, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he played in British turf, against the English side weeks after, he scored. Another occasion, against Manchester City not long later, indeed, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they took him off.

“I was furious,” the forward reveals, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the second half: I hadn’t yet signed deal, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the typical thing. I’m not certain the validity, but even if they had called, 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 training ground, Bilbao, the morning session is about to start; following that, the short journey to the airport and a further journey to Britain, now to take on the Magpies in the UCL on midweek. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for the club, partly because of the pressures of their participation. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. But, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.

In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a domestic final by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.

He considered it challenging enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. Born to the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a demotion and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.

“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the top level but with every stage you progress through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. 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. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and I tear my cruciate.

“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it helps. You develop habits new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then head home, as a youngster does. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All the minor details: perform them.

“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Current photos and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”

Minutes are crucial. The striker moved in tears in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, work, believe, and should the time come the requirement appears for your role, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the previous season which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|