‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to goals with Athletic Bilbao
The debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in England, an teenage playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in fall 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he took the field in the country, against the English side two months later, he converted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team soon after, sure enough, he repeated the feat. When he returned to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, also. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did their duty: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about Man United, the typical thing. I have no idea the validity, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at the club. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, the city, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to Loiu and another flight to England, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the demands of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. Yet, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a domestic final by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are countercultural and debuting in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it difficult enough just to earn a spot and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that produced Mikel Arteta, the former star and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in that summer, he suffered a torn cruciate, dropped, a relegation and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the first team but with every stage you go through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his debut and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it made me change the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then head home, as a youngster does. At the complex, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed in tears in 2020, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he netted three goals in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and should the time come a vacancy arises where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Especially after the prior campaign which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
