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

The initial occasion the Spanish forward featured in England, an young appearing for the youth squad against German opponents at Adams Park in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he appeared in England, against the English side following that, he scored. His third outing, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he scored again. As he revisited to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what was necessary: they substituted him.

“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the typical thing. It’s unclear the validity, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At Lezama, the city, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to the airport and another trip to Britain, now to take on the Magpies in the UCL on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It has become a tough year for the club, partly because of the demands of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. However, take in the big picture, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.

In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Gorka has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and debuting in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.

Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. The son of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Gorka is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his top-level debut in that summer, he suffered a serious knee problem, the cut, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.

“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the first team but every phase you progress through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his first game and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances there and my knee gave way.

“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then head home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Work, precaution. Strength training. With hip imbalance, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. 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. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”

You also have to play. The striker moved emotionally in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and if one day they need someone in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Particularly after last year which, at times, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|