‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from injury table to goals with the Basque club

Thehe initial occasion Gorka Guruzeta featured in English soil, an young representing the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in fall 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he appeared in the country, against the English side following that, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, well, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the city to face United at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he did it once more. An excellent finish, also. “In fact,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they took him off.

“I was furious,” the forward admits, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”

Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash

At Lezama, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is about to start; following that, the quick travel to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for the club, partly because of the requirements of their participation. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.

In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates a domestic final by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge up the Nervión estuary flanked by a million fans after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to earn a spot and he was right. The son of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a demotion and a return before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to live the best days of their lives.

“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but every phase you go through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his bow and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I tear my cruciate.

“A massive setback but I look back on it as a turning point because it shifted the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it aids growth. You adopt practices you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then return home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, all resources are available, so do everything. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: do them.

“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”

You also have to play. The striker moved emotionally in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and when eventually a vacancy arises for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after the previous season which, sometimes, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|