‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from injury table to goals with the Basque club
The first time Gorka Guruzeta competed in the UK, an young playing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he scored. On his next visit he played in British turf, against Sunderland following that, he netted. Another occasion, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he did it once more. When he returned to Manchester to face United at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, too. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the forward says, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain how true it was, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
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At Lezama, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is set to begin; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu and another trip to the UK, now to face Newcastle in the UCL on Wednesday. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a tough year for the team, partly because of the pressures of being here. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in Europe. However, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Now he is the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. As the child of the one-time rival player his father and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a demotion and a recall before he could earn his place, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the first team but with every stage you advance through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as something positive because it made me change the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so do everything. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”
Minutes are crucial. The striker moved upset in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day a vacancy arises where you play, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|