‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from rehabilitation to success with Athletic
Whenhe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta competed in English soil, an 18-year-old appearing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in British turf, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, well, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he scored again. An excellent finish, too. “Truly,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” Thus the club did their duty: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. It’s unclear how true it was, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, the city, the day’s first practice is about to start; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another flight to the UK, now to face Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partly because of the pressures of being here. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.
The player believed it challenging enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. As the child of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the coach, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he experienced a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but every phase you go through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his first game 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 severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the outlook. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, you have everything, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Strength training. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. Every small aspect: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact countless occasions. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and should the time come the requirement appears in your position, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says appreciate the experience. All the more so after the prior campaign which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|