‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to goals with the Basque club

Thehe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta featured in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for the reserve team against German opponents at Adams Park in September 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against the English side weeks after, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he did it once more. An excellent finish, also. “In fact,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” So Athletic did their duty: they substituted him.

“I was furious,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”

Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other

At Lezama, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; post-session, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to Britain, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the UCL on midweek. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the club, due in part to the demands of their participation. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in the continental stage. However, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.

In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a final at home by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in 40 years. Now he is the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are unique and returning after absence in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.

He considered it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. The son of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the coach, the former star and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he experienced a ACL injury, dropped, a relegation and a call back before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the senior squad but each step you go through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I tear my cruciate.

“A massive setback but I reflect on it as something positive because it made me change the outlook. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it helps. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then go home, as a youngster does. In the facility, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All the minor details: do them.

“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles repeatedly. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”

Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed emotionally in 2020, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come a vacancy arises in your position, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|