‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to goals with Athletic Bilbao
The initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta played in English soil, an teenage playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against the Black Cats weeks after, he netted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. As he revisited to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in that year, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, as well. “Truly,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I was without a signed deal, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. I’m not certain how true it was, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
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At the facility, Bilbao, the morning session is set to begin; post-session, the short journey to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the club, due in part to the pressures of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. Yet, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river flanked by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in four decades. He’s now the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are unique and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star his father and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a drop in category and a return before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the first team but every phase you progress through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his first game 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 a beneficial experience because it made me change the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then return home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. Every small aspect: execute them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles 200,000 times. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
Minutes are crucial. He left upset in that year, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he netted three goals in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and if one day they need someone in your position, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
