‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to success with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe first time Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an teenage playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he scored. The second time he appeared in England, against the English side following that, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, well, he scored again. Upon his comeback to the city to face United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I was without a signed deal, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the training ground, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to England, this time to play Newcastle in the UCL on Wednesday. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a challenging campaign for the team, due in part to the requirements of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are countercultural and debuting in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.
He considered it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he experienced a ACL injury, the cut, a demotion and a call back before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to live the best days of his career.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the first team but each step you progress through you’re remaining 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 six games between his bow and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a turning point because it made me change the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it aids growth. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, you have everything, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed in tears in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and should the time come a vacancy arises for your role, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Especially after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
