‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from rehabilitation to scoring with Athletic Bilbao

The initial occasion the Athletic striker played in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in England, against the English side following that, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City not long later, indeed, he did it once more. As he revisited to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, as well. “Actually,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what was necessary: they took him off.

“I got well angry,” the forward reveals, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against 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. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At Lezama, the Basque Country, the early training is about to start; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu and a further journey to the UK, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for the team, due in part to the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. However, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.

In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Now he is the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and debuting in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.

He considered it challenging enough just to earn a spot and he was right. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at his teens but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the first team but with every stage you go through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his first game and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.

“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then go home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, all resources are available, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. Every small aspect: do them.

“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”

Minutes are crucial. The striker moved in tears in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. 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, work, believe, and should the time come a vacancy arises in your position, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|