‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from gurney to scoring with the Basque club

Thehe first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in the UK, an 18-year-old representing the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. The second time he took the field in British turf, against Sunderland following that, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City not long later, sure enough, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: they substituted him.

“I got well angry,” the attacker admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the second half: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about Man United, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but had they contacted me, 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, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to the UK, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. It has become a tough year for the club, due in part to the demands of being here. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in the continental stage. But, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.

In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway accompanied by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are unique and returning after absence in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player his father and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he went through a torn cruciate, dropped, a relegation and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.

“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the top level but each step you go through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I tear my cruciate.

“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.

“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: 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. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

Game time is essential. He left upset in that year, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and when eventually they need someone in your position, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Especially after last year which, sometimes, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|