‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s road from injury table to goals with Athletic Bilbao
The initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta competed in the UK, an young representing the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he appeared in the country, against Sunderland two months later, 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 that year, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Thus the club did what they had to do: he was replaced.
“I was furious,” the attacker admits, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the usual talk. It’s unclear how true it was, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”
Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other
At Lezama, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is about to start; after it, the brief trip to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, now to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a tough year for Athletic, partially owing to the pressures of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. However, 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 the period since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in four decades. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
The player believed it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he went through a serious knee problem, dropped, a demotion and a call back before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as something positive because it shifted the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. He left in tears in 2020, aged 23, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in that season, he netted three goals in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Especially after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was about endurance. From top scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
