‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to scoring with Athletic Bilbao
The first time the Spanish forward competed in English soil, an young playing for the reserve team against German opponents at the English ground in the 2015 season, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in the country, against the English side weeks after, he netted. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team soon after, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the city to face United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, as well. “In fact,” 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 admits, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the typical thing. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
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At the facility, the city, the early training is ready to commence; post-session, the quick travel to the airport and another trip to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for Athletic, due in part to the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. However, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.
In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway accompanied by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
He considered it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. The son of the former Real Sociedad player his father and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he suffered a ACL injury, dropped, a relegation and a return before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the first team but every phase you progress through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in six games between his debut and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it aids growth. You adopt practices previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then head home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles countless occasions. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. He left upset in the pandemic season, aged 23, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he netted three goals in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and should the time come they need someone for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after last year which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|