‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s journey from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic Bilbao

The first time Gorka Guruzeta played in the UK, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in fall 2015, he found the net. The second time he took the field in England, against the Black Cats following that, he scored. Another occasion, against Manchester City soon after, indeed, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.

“I got well angry,” the forward reveals, before breaking into laughter. “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 deal, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At Lezama, Bilbao, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the brief trip to the airport and a further journey to Britain, this time to play Newcastle in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. It has become a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the pressures of their participation. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.

In the 36 months 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 up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in four decades. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are unique and debuting in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.

The player believed it challenging enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a relegation and a recall before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but with every stage you advance through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and my knee gave way.

“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a turning point because it made me change the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then head home, as a youngster does. In the facility, you have everything, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. Every small aspect: perform them.

“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”

You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in that year, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears for your role, recall is possible. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|