‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to success with Athletic
Thehe first time the Athletic striker featured in England, an young playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in fall 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. His third outing, against the Citizens soon after, indeed, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, too. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the attacker says, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed deal, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, it’s typical. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain how true it was, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I feel lucky to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, the city, the early training is about to start; following that, the short journey to Loiu and another flight to the UK, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Uttering the name lights him up. It has become a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the pressures of their participation. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. Yet, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a domestic final by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are unique and making their first appearance in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
The player believed it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a call back before he could truly get a chance, returning at 26 to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but with every stage you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in half a dozen appearances between his debut and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a turning point because it made me change the outlook. The rehabilitation process is hard, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then head home, as a youngster does. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All the minor details: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone where you play, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Particularly after last year which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. Previously the main threat with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
