‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe initial occasion the Athletic striker featured in English soil, an young playing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he played in British turf, against Sunderland following that, he converted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, well, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in 2017, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, also. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed my contract, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the early training is about to start; after it, the quick travel to Loiu and a further journey to Britain, this time to play Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It has become a tough year for the team, partially owing to the pressures of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. But, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
The player believed it difficult enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. The son of the one-time rival player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the coach, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, dropped, a drop in category and a call back before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you go 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 that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it aids growth. You adopt practices previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then return home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. Every small aspect: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. The striker moved in tears in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, work, believe, and when eventually a vacancy arises in your position, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
