‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to success with the Basque club

Whenhe debut appearance the Athletic striker played in England, an teenage representing Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he played in British turf, against Sunderland two months later, he netted. Another occasion, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did what was necessary: he was replaced.

“I was furious,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain the validity, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”

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At the training ground, the city, the morning session is ready to commence; post-session, the brief trip to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. This is proving a difficult season for the club, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in the continental stage. But, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.

In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are countercultural and debuting in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he states.

Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Gorka is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in that summer, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to experience the peak of his career.

“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the top level but every phase you progress through you’re persisting 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 half a dozen appearances between his bow and February 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and my knee gave way.

“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as something positive because it made me change the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then head home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: do them.

“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: 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 additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

You also have to play. He left emotionally in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, work, believe, and when eventually the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

No wonder he says savor the moment. Particularly after the previous season which, sometimes, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|