‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from injury table to goals with the Basque club

Whenhe debut appearance Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an 18-year-old playing for the reserve team against German opponents at Adams Park in September 2015, he found the net. On his next visit he played in England, against the English side weeks after, he netted. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, sure enough, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what was necessary: he was replaced.

“I was furious,” the attacker admits, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the second half: I was without a signed my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I have no idea how true it was, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”

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At the training ground, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to Britain, now to play Newcastle in the UCL on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a tough year for Athletic, partially owing to the demands of their participation. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.

In the three years since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a domestic final by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.

He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and he was right. Born to the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, dropped, a demotion and a call back before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to experience the peak of his career.

“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the top level but each step you go through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his debut and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I tear my cruciate.

“A massive setback but I look back on it as a turning point because it shifted the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then go home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. Every small aspect: perform them.

“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles repeatedly. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”

Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in the pandemic season, aged 23, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come the requirement appears for your role, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

No wonder he says savor the moment. All the more so after last year which, at times, was involved suffering. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|