‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to success with Athletic Bilbao

The debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta competed in the UK, an young appearing for the youth squad against German opponents at Adams Park in September 2015, he scored. The second time he appeared in British turf, against the Black Cats weeks after, he scored. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, well, he scored again. Upon his comeback to the city to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in 2017, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, also. “Actually,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” So Athletic did what they had to do: he was replaced.

“I was furious,” the Athletic striker reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I performed well. They kept me out of the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At Lezama, Bilbao, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another flight to the UK, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on midweek. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a tough year for the team, partly because of the demands of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.

In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied 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 European competition, where they are unique and returning after absence in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.

He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he suffered a ACL injury, dropped, a drop in category and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.

“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the top level but each step you go through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his bow and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.

“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a turning point because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it helps. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.

“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players 200,000 times. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”

Minutes are crucial. He left emotionally in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and when eventually they need someone for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”

Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|