‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s path from injury table to scoring with the Basque club
The debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in England, an 18-year-old representing the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in the 2015 season, he found the net. On his next visit he played in the country, against the English side weeks after, he netted. His third outing, against the Citizens soon after, sure enough, he scored again. As he revisited to Manchester to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the forward admits, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, I kept finding the net, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
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At Lezama, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, now to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on Wednesday. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the team, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in the continental stage. Yet, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. He’s now the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are distinctive and debuting in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. Born to the ex-La Real star his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the San Sebastián club that developed the coach, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in that summer, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a relegation and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you go through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and my knee gave way.
“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it helps. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then return home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, you have everything, so take full advantage. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, address that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. 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. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. With a turnaround, work, believe, and if one day they need someone for your role, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, at times, was about endurance. From top scorer with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
