‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s path from gurney to success with Athletic
Whenhe first time the Spanish forward featured in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. During his subsequent match he took the field in the country, against the English side two months later, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, sure enough, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the city to face United at the sports complex in 2017, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did their duty: he was replaced.
“I was furious,” the attacker reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the second half: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Man United, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but supposing an offer came, my desire was to remain at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the training ground, the city, the day’s first practice is set to begin; after it, the short journey to the airport and another trip to Britain, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a tough year for the club, partly because of the pressures of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. However, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a final at home by the English giants, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and debuting in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.
He considered it challenging enough just to earn a spot and his assessment was correct. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the first team but every phase you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it helps. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then return home, as a youngster does. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, address that. With decent ankle function, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved emotionally in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone in your position, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Particularly after last year which, at times, was about endurance. From top scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|