‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to scoring with Athletic
The initial occasion the Spanish forward played in England, an teenage appearing for the reserve team against German opponents at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he hit the target. The second time he played in British turf, against Sunderland two months later, he scored. The third time, against the Citizens soon after, well, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the city to face United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he scored again. An excellent finish, as well. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Thus the club did their duty: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed agreement, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Manchester United, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; post-session, the brief trip to Loiu and another trip to Britain, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are unique and returning after absence in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and that proved true. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that produced the coach, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, dropped, a demotion and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the first team but each step 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 half a dozen appearances between his bow and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines new to you. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players countless occasions. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. He left in tears in that year, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and if one day they need someone for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after last year which, on occasions, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
