‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic Bilbao

Whenhe first time the Spanish forward competed in the UK, an 18-year-old representing the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he took the field in British turf, against the English side weeks after, he scored. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the northwest to face United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, as well. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: he was replaced.

“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, 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 latter period: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, you know how it is. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Man United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain the validity, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At the training ground, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; following that, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the club, partly because of the pressures of their participation. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.

In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, Gorka has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary flanked by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the first title in four decades. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are distinctive and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to break into the senior squad 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 graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed the Arsenal manager, the former star and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a return before he could earn his place, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.

“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in six games between his bow and February 2019. “And then I go back down 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 a turning point because it shifted the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then return home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so do everything. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: do them.

“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

You also have to play. Guruzeta departed emotionally in 2020, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and when eventually the requirement appears where you play, a return could happen. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

No wonder he says appreciate the experience. Particularly after the prior campaign which, at times, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|