‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Whenhe first time Gorka Guruzeta competed in England, an young appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he took the field in England, against Sunderland following that, he netted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, indeed, he scored again. Upon his comeback to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he scored again. An excellent finish, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I was furious,” the Athletic striker admits, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; post-session, the quick travel to the airport and a further journey to Britain, now to face Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a tough year for Athletic, partly because of the requirements of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. Yet, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in four decades. He’s now the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
The player believed it hard enough just to make the first team and that proved true. The son of the one-time rival player his father and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the Arsenal manager, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he went through a serious knee problem, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the first team but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his first game and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as something positive because it forced me to alter the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then go home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. With decent ankle function, improve it more. Every small aspect: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles repeatedly. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. He left upset in 2020, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and if one day the requirement appears for your role, a return could happen. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the prior campaign which, at times, was about endurance. From top scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
