‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s path from rehabilitation to scoring with Athletic Bilbao

The first time the Athletic striker featured in England, an young representing Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he appeared in the country, against the Black Cats following that, he scored. Another occasion, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he scored again. A spectacular strike, also. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: he was replaced.

“I got well angry,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I was without a signed agreement, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I have no idea the validity, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”

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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the morning session is about to start; after it, the brief trip to Loiu and another flight to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the UCL on the upcoming match. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the team, partly because of the demands of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in Europe. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.

In the the period since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

The player believed it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he experienced a serious knee problem, dropped, a demotion and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of his career.

“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the top level but with every stage you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his first game and that period. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them 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 challenging, but it helps. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then head home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.

“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

Game time is essential. The striker moved upset in 2020, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he scored three times in 40 games. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and when eventually the requirement appears for your role, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Little surprise he states savor the moment. Especially after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|