‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to scoring with Athletic

Whenhe initial occasion the Spanish forward played in the UK, an teenage playing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against the Black Cats following that, he converted. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, sure enough, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, too. “Actually,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they substituted him.

“I became very upset,” the attacker admits, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. 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, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Manchester United, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At the facility, the Basque Country, the morning session is set to begin; after it, the brief trip to Loiu and another trip to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a tough year for Athletic, due in part to the demands of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.

In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in a long wait. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are unique and debuting in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.

The player believed it hard enough just to make the first team and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he suffered a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the top level but each step you go through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and my knee gave way.

“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You develop habits new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then head home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: do them.

“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Current photos and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

You also have to play. The striker moved upset in that year, aged 23, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the following period, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises in your position, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks savor the moment. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|