‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to success with Athletic

Thehe first time the Spanish forward featured in England, an young appearing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he scored. On his next visit he took the field in England, against the English side following that, he scored. Another occasion, against Manchester City not long later, sure enough, he did it once more. When he returned to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, also. “Truly,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Therefore the team did their duty: they substituted him.

“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I was without a signed agreement, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”

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At the training ground, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to the UK, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It has become a difficult season for the club, due in part to the demands of their participation. Defeated late on in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.

In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a domestic final by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. As the child of the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that produced the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a demotion and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of their lives.

“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the first team but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his first game and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and my knee gave way.

“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it aids growth. You develop habits new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then return home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. With decent ankle function, improve it more. All the minor details: perform them.

“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”

You also have to play. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and should the time come they need someone where you play, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

No wonder he says savor the moment. All the more so after last year which, on occasions, was about endurance. From top scorer with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|