‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s journey from gurney to goals with the Basque club
Thehe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta competed in England, an young appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he took the field in the country, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. His third outing, against Manchester City not long later, indeed, he did it once more. As he revisited to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in that year, he scored again. A spectacular strike, too. “In fact,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, you know how it is. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At Lezama, the city, the early training is set to begin; following that, the brief trip to Loiu and another trip to Britain, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the UCL on Wednesday. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for the club, due in part 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 been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. Yet, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a domestic final by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway surrounded by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are unique and debuting in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
The player believed it difficult enough just to make the first team and he was right. Born to the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the coach, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in that summer, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a return before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to live the best days of his career.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but every phase you progress through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You make it and … departure is necessary.” 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]. A few matches at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the outlook. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then head home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Work, precaution. Strength training. With hip imbalance, work on that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed in tears in 2020, aged 23, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and should the time come a vacancy arises in your position, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after last year which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|