‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to success with the Basque club
Thehe first time Gorka Guruzeta competed in English soil, an young playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in the 2015 season, he hit the target. The second time he took the field in the country, against the Black Cats weeks after, he scored. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, indeed, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in that year, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, also. “Truly,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the Athletic striker admits, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the second half: I hadn’t yet signed deal, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
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At the training ground, the city, the day’s first practice is about to start; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and a further journey to Britain, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for the club, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in Europe. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway surrounded by a million fans 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 debuting in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
He considered it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. Born to the one-time rival player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he suffered a torn cruciate, dropped, a drop in category and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the senior squad but every phase you advance through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his first game and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as something positive because it made me change the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day a vacancy arises for your role, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, at times, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
