‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from rehabilitation to scoring with Athletic
Whenhe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta played in England, an 18-year-old representing the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he scored. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against Sunderland following that, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City soon after, sure enough, he did it once more. As he revisited to Manchester to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in 2017, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, also. “Actually,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did their duty: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea the validity, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash
At the facility, the Basque Country, the morning session is set to begin; following that, the brief trip to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, now to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partially owing to the pressures of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and the German side in Europe. Yet, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a final at home by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway surrounded by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are unique and making their first appearance in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
The player believed it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. The son of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed the coach, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he went through a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a recall before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the senior squad but every phase you progress through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as something positive because it shifted the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits you didn’t have. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. At the complex, all resources are available, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles repeatedly. Highly robust. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved in tears in 2020, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, work, believe, and when eventually a vacancy arises in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Especially after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was involved suffering. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
