‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s path from rehabilitation to goals with the Basque club
The initial occasion the Athletic striker featured in the UK, an teenage playing for the youth squad against German opponents at Adams Park in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he played in England, against the English side following that, he scored. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, well, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Thus the club did their duty: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker admits, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to England, this time to face Newcastle in the UCL on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words lights him up. This is proving a difficult season for the club, due in part to the pressures of being here. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are countercultural and debuting in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he says.
He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. Born to the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that developed Mikel Arteta, the former star and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he experienced a torn cruciate, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the first team but every phase you progress through you’re persisting and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it aids growth. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then head home, as a youngster does. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. With decent ankle function, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players countless occasions. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. He left in tears in 2020, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day a vacancy arises where you play, recall is possible. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. Especially after last year which, on occasions, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
