‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s road from injury table to success with the Basque club
Whenhe first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against the Black Cats weeks after, he netted. The third time, against the Citizens not long later, indeed, he did it once more. When he returned to the city to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in 2017, he scored again. A spectacular strike, also. “Actually,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker says, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They kept me out of the latter period: I was without a signed deal, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the usual talk. I have no idea if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the brief trip to Loiu and another trip to England, now to face Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. This is proving a difficult season for Athletic, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
He considered it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the one-time rival player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that produced the Arsenal manager, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in that summer, he experienced a serious knee problem, the cut, a relegation and a return before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of his career.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the top level but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as something positive because it made me change the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it helps. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then return home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact repeatedly. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. He left emotionally in 2020, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and if one day they need someone for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says appreciate the experience. Especially after last year which, sometimes, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
