‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from rehabilitation to scoring with the Basque club

Whenhe first time the Athletic striker played in English soil, an teenage representing the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in England, against Sunderland following that, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. When he returned to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” So Athletic did what they had to do: he was replaced.

“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I was without a signed my contract, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain the validity, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the early training is set to begin; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to the UK, now to take on the Magpies in the UCL on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the requirements of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.

In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates a final at home by the English giants, and has traveled on a traditional boat through the waterway accompanied by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.

The player believed it challenging enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the ex-La Real star his father and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he went through a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.

“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I tear my cruciate.

“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as something positive because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then go home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. Every small aspect: perform them.

“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact countless occasions. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”

You also have to play. He left in tears in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone where you play, recall is possible. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. All the more so after last year which, at times, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|