‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from injury table to goals with the Basque club
The initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta featured in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against the Black Cats weeks after, he scored. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, well, he did it once more. When he returned to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, as well. “In fact,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the forward admits, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain how true it was, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, the city, the early training is about to start; following that, the brief trip to Loiu airport and another flight to the UK, now to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It has become a tough year for Athletic, due in part to the pressures of being here. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. But, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates a domestic final by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary flanked by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he says.
The player believed it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the opposition side, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the coach, the former star and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in that summer, he suffered a serious knee problem, dropped, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but with every stage you go through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his bow and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a turning point because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. Every small aspect: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. He left upset in that year, aged 23, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and when eventually a vacancy arises for your role, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after the prior campaign which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
