‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from injury table to success with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe debut appearance the Spanish forward played in England, an 18-year-old representing the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. During his subsequent match he played in England, against Sunderland following that, he scored. The third time, against the Citizens not long later, indeed, he scored again. Upon his comeback to the northwest to face United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he scored again. An excellent finish, also. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Thus the club did their duty: they substituted him.
“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the second half: I was without a signed agreement, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Man United, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, the city, the morning session is set to begin; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, this time to play Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Just saying those two words lights him up. This is proving a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the demands of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway flanked by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.
He considered it difficult enough just to earn a spot and he was right. The son of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he suffered a torn cruciate, the cut, a demotion and a call back before he could earn his place, making his comeback to experience the peak of his career.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the senior squad but each step you go through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his bow and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as something positive because it made me change the perspective. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it helps. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. Every small aspect: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. He left emotionally in that year, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in that season, he got three strikes in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day the requirement appears in your position, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Especially after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
