‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to success with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe debut appearance the Spanish forward competed in England, an young representing the youth squad against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he appeared in British turf, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens not long later, well, he scored again. When he returned to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. An excellent finish, too. “In fact,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the forward admits, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I was without a signed deal, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I have no idea the validity, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the morning session is about to start; after it, the brief trip to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for Athletic, partially owing to the demands of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. However, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway flanked by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a drop in category and a recall before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the senior squad but each step you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it aids growth. You adopt practices you didn’t have. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then head home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, you have everything, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, work on that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact countless occasions. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. The striker moved in tears in that year, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in that season, he netted three goals in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises in your position, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
