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

The first time the Spanish forward featured in the UK, an teenage appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in fall 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against the English side two months later, he netted. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. An excellent finish, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they substituted him.

“I got well angry,” the attacker says, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain the validity, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other

At the training ground, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is set to begin; following that, the quick travel to the airport and a further journey to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the UCL on Wednesday. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a tough year for Athletic, partially owing to the requirements of being here. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. But, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.

In the the period since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he says.

The player believed it difficult enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that produced Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he experienced a torn cruciate, being released, a demotion and a return before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to live the best days of his career.

“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the top level but every phase you advance through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his bow and February 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I suffered the ACL injury.

“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I attended practice and then return home, as a youngster does. At the complex, you have everything, so do everything. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.

“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”

Game time is essential. He left upset in that year, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and when eventually the requirement appears in your position, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. 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 this is to be enjoyed. Especially after last year which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|