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

The first time the Spanish forward featured in the UK, an 18-year-old playing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against the Black Cats two months later, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City soon after, indeed, he scored again. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “In fact,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Thus the club did their duty: he was replaced.

“I became very upset,” the forward admits, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about Manchester United, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At the training ground, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; after it, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to the UK, this time to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a difficult season for the team, due in part to the requirements of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. But, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.

In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway accompanied by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.

He considered it challenging enough just to make the first team and he was right. The son of the one-time rival player 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 developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of their lives.

“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the top level but every phase you progress through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and my knee gave way.

“A massive setback but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then go home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Strength training. With hip imbalance, address that. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.

“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Current photos and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”

You also have to play. The striker moved in tears in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises in your position, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

No wonder he says appreciate the experience. All the more so after last year which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|