‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to scoring with Athletic
Whenhe debut appearance the Spanish forward competed in the UK, an teenage representing Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at Adams Park in September 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against the English side following that, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens soon after, well, he repeated the feat. When he returned to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the Athletic striker says, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about Man United, the typical thing. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
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At Lezama, the city, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to the airport and another flight to England, now to play Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. This is proving a challenging campaign for the club, partially owing to the demands of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a final at home by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the club’s first trophy in a long wait. He’s now the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are unique and making their first appearance in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he says.
The player believed it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured the coach, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in that summer, he went through a torn cruciate, dropped, a demotion and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of their lives.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but with every stage you progress through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his bow and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned 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 look back on it as a turning point because it made me change the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then go home, as a youngster does. At the complex, all resources are available, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Strength training. With hip imbalance, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed emotionally in 2020, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and if one day they need someone where you play, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. All the more so after last year which, at times, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
