‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to goals with the Basque club
Whenhe initial occasion the Spanish forward competed in the UK, an 18-year-old playing for the reserve team against German opponents at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he hit the target. On his next visit he appeared in England, against Sunderland two months later, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, indeed, he scored again. When he returned to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he scored again. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the attacker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the second half: I was without a signed my contract, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about Man United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain how true it was, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; post-session, the short journey to the airport and another trip to England, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. It has become a challenging campaign for Athletic, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are unique and making their first appearance in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.
The player believed it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. As the child of the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in that summer, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the top level but every phase you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in six games between his bow and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as something positive because it made me change the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then return home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. The striker moved upset in 2020, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day the requirement appears where you play, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Especially after the prior campaign which, at times, was involved suffering. From top scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|