‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from gurney to goals with the Basque club
Thehe first time Gorka Guruzeta played in English soil, an teenage playing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. During his subsequent match he took the field in the country, against Sunderland weeks after, he netted. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. Upon his comeback to the northwest to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in that year, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he states, “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 attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Manchester United, the typical thing. I have no idea how true it was, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; post-session, the quick travel to the airport and another flight to the UK, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for the club, partially owing to the pressures of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a domestic final by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river surrounded by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in four decades. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
The player believed it challenging enough just to make the first team and he was right. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the first team but with every stage you progress through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes 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 tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles repeatedly. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. He left emotionally in that year, aged 23, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in forty appearances. 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 should the time come the requirement appears for your role, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was about endurance. From top scorer with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
