‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from injury table to goals with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an teenage representing Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he took the field in England, against Sunderland weeks after, he converted. The third time, against Manchester City soon after, well, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did their duty: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker says, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Man United, the typical thing. I have no idea how true it was, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is set to begin; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and a further journey to the UK, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It has become a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the pressures of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. Yet, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a domestic final by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
The player believed it difficult enough just to earn a spot and he was right. As the child of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he went through a serious knee problem, being released, a demotion and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the top level but with every stage you advance through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as something positive because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Strength training. With hip imbalance, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved upset in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, work, believe, and should the time come they need someone where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. 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, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
