‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from rehabilitation to scoring with Athletic
Thehe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an young representing the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he appeared in British turf, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. His third outing, against Manchester City not long later, well, he did it once more. When he returned to the city to face United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I was furious,” the attacker says, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about Man United, the usual talk. I have no idea if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the facility, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; following that, the short journey to Loiu and another flight to the UK, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the UCL on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a challenging campaign for the team, partly because of the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in Europe. But, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in four decades. He’s now the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. The son of the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a relegation and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but each step you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his first game and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a turning point because it shifted the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then return home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Practice, prevention. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. He left upset in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the following period, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and when eventually they need someone where you play, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. All the more so after the previous season which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
