‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s path from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic Bilbao

Whenhe debut appearance the Athletic striker played in England, an teenage representing the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in September 2015, he scored. The second time he appeared in the country, against the Black Cats two months later, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens not long later, sure enough, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.

“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. It’s unclear the validity, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”

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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the morning session is set to begin; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to England, this time to face Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a challenging campaign for Athletic, due in part to the demands of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. However, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.

In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a final at home by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river flanked by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as 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 difficult enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. The son of the one-time rival player his father and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, the former star and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he experienced a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.

“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but with every stage you progress through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I suffered the ACL injury.

“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then return home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.

“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players repeatedly. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

Minutes are crucial. The striker moved upset in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and should the time come the requirement appears where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, at times, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|