‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from injury table to success with Athletic Bilbao
The first time the Athletic striker competed in England, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he took the field in England, against Sunderland two months later, he converted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, well, he did it once more. As he revisited to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Thus the club did what was necessary: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the forward admits, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Man United, the usual talk. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the UCL on the upcoming match. Uttering the name lights him up. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partly because of the requirements of competing at this level. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. However, take in the big picture, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are distinctive and returning after absence in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.
The player believed it hard enough just to make the first team and that proved true. Born to the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he went through a torn cruciate, the cut, a relegation and a call back 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 top level but with every stage you advance through you’re remaining and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it shifted the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it helps. You cultivate routines previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then return home, as a youngster does. At the complex, you have everything, so do everything. Work, precaution. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All the minor details: perform them.
“Among professionals you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players countless occasions. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed in tears in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day a vacancy arises for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Especially after the previous season which, on occasions, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
