‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to success with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe first time Gorka Guruzeta competed in England, an young representing the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he found the net. The second time he took the field in British turf, against the English side following that, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City soon after, sure enough, he scored again. When he returned to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he scored again. It was a superb volley, also. “In fact,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the requirements of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. Yet, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a domestic final by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer 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 that proved true. Born to the one-time rival player his father and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the coach, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you go through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his first game and February 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it helps. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then return home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All the minor details: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed upset in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and when eventually a vacancy arises where you play, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Especially after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
