‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to scoring with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe debut appearance the Spanish forward played in the UK, an young appearing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he found the net. The second time he appeared in England, against the English side two months later, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City soon after, indeed, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to Manchester to face United at the sports complex in 2017, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, also. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the forward says, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Manchester United, the typical thing. It’s unclear how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, Bilbao, the morning session is about to start; after it, the quick travel to Loiu and a further journey to the UK, now to play Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, due in part to the demands of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a domestic final by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are distinctive and debuting in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.
He considered it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, being released, a relegation and a return before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you go through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his first game and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as something positive because it made me change the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved emotionally in 2020, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises in your position, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the previous season which, on occasions, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|