‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe first time Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an teenage representing Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in September 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he appeared in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he netted. Another occasion, against Manchester City six weeks after that, indeed, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, too. “In fact,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” So Athletic did their duty: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about Man United, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky 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 quick travel to Loiu airport and another flight to England, now to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on midweek. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for the club, partly because of the pressures of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in the continental stage. But, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a domestic final by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway accompanied by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in a long wait. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
The player believed it challenging enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that nurtured the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he suffered a serious knee problem, the cut, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the first team but each step you advance through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You develop habits new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the following period, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and should the time come the requirement appears where you play, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Especially after last year which, on occasions, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
