‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s path from gurney to scoring with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe debut appearance the Spanish forward featured in England, an 18-year-old representing the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he appeared in British turf, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, well, he scored again. As he revisited to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he scored again. An excellent finish, also. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” Therefore the team did their duty: he was replaced.
“I was furious,” the attacker admits, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed my contract, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the typical thing. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other
At Lezama, the Basque Country, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. This is proving a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. However, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river flanked by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.
The player believed it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the senior squad but every phase you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his debut 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 suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as a turning point because it made me change the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. You adopt practices you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. Every small aspect: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Minutes are crucial. The striker moved upset in 2020, aged 23, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and should the time come a vacancy arises where you play, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
