‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from injury table to goals with Athletic
The debut appearance the Spanish forward played in English soil, an teenage representing the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he hit the target. The second time he played in British turf, against the English side two months later, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. As he revisited to the city to face United at the sports complex in that year, he scored again. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the forward admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the typical thing. I’m not certain how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is about to start; following that, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to the UK, now to play Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It has become a challenging campaign for the club, due in part to the pressures of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. Yet, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are unique and debuting in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.
Guruzeta thought it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. The son of the one-time rival player his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that developed the Arsenal manager, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the first team but each step you progress through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his first game and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You develop habits previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then head home, as a youngster does. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. Every small aspect: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players countless occasions. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he netted three goals in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears for your role, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
