‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to success with the Basque club
Whenhe first time the Spanish forward competed in England, an teenage representing Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in fall 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he appeared in the country, against the English side weeks after, he scored. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the forward says, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I was without a signed agreement, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, the usual talk. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the short journey to the airport and another trip to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the UCL on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for Athletic, due in part to the pressures of their participation. 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 Dortmund in Europe. But, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge up the Nervión estuary surrounded by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are countercultural and debuting in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he states.
He considered it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the ex-La Real star the former professional and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, the former star and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the senior squad but each step you advance through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as a turning point because it shifted the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then head home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. He left in tears in that year, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises where you play, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
