‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s road from injury table to success with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an young playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in England, against the Black Cats two months later, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he scored again. When he returned to the northwest to face United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he scored again. An excellent finish, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; following that, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to Britain, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. It’s turning out to be a tough year for Athletic, partly because of the requirements of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and the German side in Europe. However, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a final at home by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway accompanied by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are unique and returning after absence in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
He considered it hard enough just to make the first team and he was right. The son of the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, the cut, a drop in category and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to live the best days of his career.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the senior squad but each step you go through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his bow and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You adopt practices previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, you have everything, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, address that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed in tears in that year, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears where you play, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after last year which, at times, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
