‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from rehabilitation to success with Athletic
Thehe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta played in England, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he played in England, against Sunderland following that, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, also. “Actually,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” So Athletic did their duty: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the Athletic striker says, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I was without a signed agreement, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the facility, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to the UK, this time to face Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a difficult season for Athletic, due in part to the requirements of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and 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 from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary flanked by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that produced the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he experienced a torn cruciate, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but each step you progress through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his debut 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.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as something positive because it shifted the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then return home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. He left upset in 2020, aged 23, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and when eventually the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Especially after last year which, sometimes, was about endurance. From top scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|