‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s path from injury table to goals with Athletic Bilbao
Whenhe initial occasion the Spanish forward competed in English soil, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against Sunderland weeks after, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, indeed, he scored again. As he revisited to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “Truly,” he states, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” Thus the club did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the Athletic striker says, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I was without a signed deal, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I have no idea if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”
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At the training ground, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to England, this time to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for the club, due in part to the pressures of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in Europe. However, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a semi-final participant, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat along the Nervión river surrounded by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are unique and returning after absence in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he admits.
He considered it difficult enough just to make the first team and that proved true. Born to the ex-La Real star his father and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, 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.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the first team but with every stage you progress through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You make it and … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A massive setback but In retrospect as something positive because it made me change the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You develop habits you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then return home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: execute them.
“Among professionals you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. He left upset in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the following period, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and when eventually the requirement appears where you play, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
