‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to success with the Basque club

The first time Gorka Guruzeta competed in English soil, an young playing for the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in September 2015, he scored. On his next visit he appeared in British turf, against the English side two months later, he converted. His third outing, against Manchester City soon after, sure enough, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he scored again. It was a superb volley, as well. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they substituted him.

“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. I have no idea the validity, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”

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

At Lezama, the city, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; post-session, the short journey to Loiu and another flight to England, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the team, partially owing to the pressures of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. However, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.

In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.

He considered it hard enough just to make the first team and that proved true. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he experienced a torn cruciate, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of his career.

“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the first team but every phase you go through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I tear my cruciate.

“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it shifted the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it helps. You adopt practices you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, you have everything, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All the minor details: execute them.

“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles repeatedly. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”

You also have to play. The striker moved in tears in 2020, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Especially after last year which, sometimes, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|