‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to scoring with the Basque club

Whenhe first time the Spanish forward featured in the UK, an teenage representing the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he hit the target. The second time he played in British turf, against the English side following that, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. When he returned to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did their duty: they substituted him.

“I got well angry,” the forward says, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I was without a signed agreement, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about Man United, the typical thing. It’s unclear the validity, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At Lezama, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is set to begin; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to the UK, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on midweek. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a tough year for the club, partially owing to the pressures of being here. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.

In the the period since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, prevented from reaching a final at home by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in four decades. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are countercultural and debuting in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.

He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a recall before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.

“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the senior squad but each step you go through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in six games between his bow and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.

“A massive setback but I reflect on it as something positive because it shifted the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it helps. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then return home, as a youngster does. At the complex, you have everything, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: perform them.

“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”

Minutes are crucial. He left upset in that year, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and should the time come they need someone for your role, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after the previous season which, sometimes, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|