‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic

Whenhe first time the Athletic striker featured in English soil, an teenage representing the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he played in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City not long later, indeed, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the city to face United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. It was a superb volley, also. “In fact,” he states, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they took him off.

“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker reveals, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the typical thing. It’s unclear how true it was, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At the facility, the Basque Country, the early training is ready to commence; following that, the quick travel to the airport and another flight to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the team, partly because of the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude about him.

In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway accompanied by a million fans after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Now he is the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are unique and returning after absence in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.

Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. The son of the one-time rival player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in that summer, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games with them and I tear my cruciate.

“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it helps. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. Every small aspect: perform them.

“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”

Minutes are crucial. The striker moved in tears in the pandemic season, aged 23, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and should the time come they need someone in your position, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so 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|