‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic
Whenhe initial occasion the Spanish forward featured in England, an young appearing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. The second time he took the field in British turf, against Sunderland weeks after, he netted. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. As he revisited to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he scored again. A spectacular strike, too. “In fact,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals in my career.” So Athletic did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker says, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I was without a signed agreement, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to Loiu and a further journey to England, this time to take on the Magpies in the UCL on the upcoming match. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a tough year for the club, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in Europe. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river surrounded by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are unique and debuting in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
The player believed it challenging enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he suffered a serious knee problem, dropped, a relegation and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to live the best days of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but every phase you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his first game and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as something positive because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices you didn’t have. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then return home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Strength training. With hip imbalance, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact repeatedly. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. He left in tears in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day a vacancy arises in your position, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, 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 involved suffering. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
