‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic
The first time the Athletic striker competed in the UK, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at the English ground in the 2015 season, he found the net. The second time he appeared in British turf, against Sunderland weeks after, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City not long later, well, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in that year, he scored again. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, it’s typical. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about Man United, the typical thing. I’m not certain the validity, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at the club. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At Lezama, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is about to start; after it, the quick travel to Loiu airport and another flight to England, on this occasion to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on midweek. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. This is proving a tough year for the team, partly because of the demands of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and the German side in the continental stage. Yet, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title 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 ten years. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
The player believed it hard enough just to make the first team and that proved true. Born to the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the coach, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in that summer, he experienced a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a call back before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“Joining the setup doubting you’ll make the top level but every phase you go through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change 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 attended practice and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved upset in 2020, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in 2020-21, he got three strikes in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, work, believe, and when eventually the requirement appears in your position, recall is possible. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
