‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s path from gurney to success with the Basque club
Whenhe first time the Athletic striker competed in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for the youth squad against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he hit the target. The second time he appeared in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. The third time, against Manchester City soon after, sure enough, he did it once more. As he revisited to the northwest to face United at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he scored again. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker says, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the typical thing. It’s unclear the validity, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is set to begin; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to England, now to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the team, partially owing to the demands of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in the continental stage. But, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a domestic final by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway flanked by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware 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. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and he was right. The son of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that produced the coach, the former star and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he experienced a torn cruciate, dropped, a demotion and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of his career.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but with every stage you go through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in six games between his bow and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as something positive because it forced me to alter the outlook. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then go home, as a youngster does. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. He left emotionally in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and if one day a vacancy arises in your position, a return could happen. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
