‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic

Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in England, against Sunderland two months later, he scored. The third time, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. When he returned to Manchester to face United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he scored again. It was a superb volley, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did their duty: they took him off.

“I was furious,” the forward says, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain how true it was, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At the training ground, the city, the morning session is set to begin; post-session, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the UCL on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It has become a difficult season for the club, partly because of the demands of being here. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.

In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and debuting in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.

Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to make the first team and he was right. Born to the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a demotion and a call back before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.

“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the first team but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his first game and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and I tear my cruciate.

“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it forced me to alter the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines new to you. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then head home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, address that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All the minor details: do them.

“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players repeatedly. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”

Game time is essential. He left emotionally in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone where you play, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|