‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to success with Athletic

Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in England, an 18-year-old representing the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in England, against Sunderland following that, he scored. His third outing, against the Citizens not long later, sure enough, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest 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 remarks, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Therefore the team did their duty: they substituted him.

“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the second half: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the usual talk. I’m not certain how true it was, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”

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At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to Britain, now to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for Athletic, due in part to the pressures of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.

In the the period since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a domestic final by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are unique and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.

The player believed it difficult enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. Born to the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the coach, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after making his senior debut in that summer, he experienced a serious knee problem, dropped, a drop in category and a return 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 with every stage you progress through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his first game and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I tear my cruciate.

“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as a turning point because it shifted the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then return home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.

“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”

Minutes are crucial. He left upset 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 numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and when eventually they need someone where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

No wonder he says savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|