‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s path from gurney to scoring with Athletic Bilbao
Thehe initial occasion the Athletic striker featured in the UK, an young appearing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he hit the target. The second time he took the field in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he repeated the feat. When he returned to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, also. “Actually,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the second half: I was without a signed agreement, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
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At the training ground, the city, the morning session is ready to commence; following that, the quick travel to Loiu and a further journey to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. It’s turning out to be a tough year for Athletic, partly because of the demands of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. But, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway flanked by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. As the child of the one-time rival player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in that summer, he experienced a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the first team but with every stage you go through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his bow and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, as a youngster does. At the complex, you have everything, so do everything. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed emotionally in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he got three strikes in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and should the time come they need someone where you play, recall is possible. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
