‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from rehabilitation to scoring with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta competed in the UK, an teenage appearing for the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. The second time he played in British turf, against the Black Cats following that, he converted. His third outing, against Manchester City soon after, well, he repeated the feat. When he returned to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he scored again. An excellent finish, also. “In fact,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the forward says, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea the validity, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the facility, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; after it, the brief trip to Loiu airport and a further journey to Britain, now to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. This is proving a difficult season for Athletic, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
He considered it difficult enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then head home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All the minor details: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and when eventually the requirement appears in your position, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was involved suffering. From top scorer with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
