‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to success with the Basque club
Thehe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he hit the target. The second time he took the field in British turf, against the Black Cats two months later, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the northwest to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” 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 was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu and a further journey to Britain, now to play Newcastle in the UCL on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a challenging campaign for the team, due in part to the pressures of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a domestic final by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed the Arsenal manager, the former star and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, dropped, a demotion and a recall before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the top level but every phase you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it helps. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so do everything. Work, precaution. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles countless occasions. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved emotionally in 2020, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and should the time come a vacancy arises in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
