‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta competed in English soil, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against the Black Cats two months later, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. Upon his comeback to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he scored again. It was a superb volley, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the typical thing. It’s unclear how true it was, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
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At the training ground, the city, the morning session is ready to commence; following that, the brief trip to Loiu and another trip to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a challenging campaign for Athletic, due in part to the demands of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. But, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary flanked by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are countercultural and debuting in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
The player believed it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. The son of the one-time rival player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the coach, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after making his senior debut 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 the club’s history.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but every phase you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his first game and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Strength training. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved in tears in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in that season, he got three strikes in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day they need someone for your role, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Especially after the prior campaign which, at times, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
