‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s path from gurney to success with Athletic Bilbao
The debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in English soil, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against Sunderland two months later, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the northwest to face United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they took him off.
“I was furious,” the attacker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu airport and another flight to the UK, this time to take on the Magpies in the UCL on midweek. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a tough year for Athletic, partially owing to the demands of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. But, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway accompanied by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
He considered it challenging enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that produced Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in that summer, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a return before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you go through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his bow and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as something positive because it made me change the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it aids growth. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. In the facility, you have everything, so take full advantage. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. The striker moved in tears in that year, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the following period, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and should the time come a vacancy arises for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after last year which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
