‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from injury table to success with Athletic
The debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in the UK, an teenage appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in fall 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he took the field in the country, against the English side two months later, he netted. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, sure enough, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he scored again. An excellent finish, too. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the attacker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Man United, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; following that, the brief trip to the airport and a further journey to the UK, this time to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for Athletic, partly because of the demands of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river surrounded by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he states.
The player believed it hard enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. Born to the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that produced the coach, the former star and Andoni Iraola. He joined Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a demotion and a call back before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of his career.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you progress through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow and February 2019. “And then I go back down 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 something positive because it made me change the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. You adopt practices you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. At the complex, all resources are available, so do everything. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, work on 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 crash into players who have been in battles repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”
Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed upset in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, work, believe, and should the time come they need someone in your position, recall is possible. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. All the more so after last year which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
