‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s road from injury table to success with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an 18-year-old appearing for the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in September 2015, he scored. The second time he took the field in England, against Sunderland two months later, he converted. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. As he revisited to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in 2017, he scored again. It was a superb volley, also. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did their duty: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the Athletic striker says, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about Man United, the usual talk. I have no idea the validity, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash
At the training ground, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is about to start; after it, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to the UK, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a challenging campaign for the team, due in part to the pressures of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured the coach, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, dropped, a relegation and a call back before he could earn his place, making his comeback to experience the peak of their lives.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the first team but each step you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches 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]. Five, six games there and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as something positive because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it helps. You adopt practices you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then go home, as a youngster does. At the complex, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed in tears in 2020, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the previous season which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
