‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from rehabilitation to scoring with the Basque club
Thehe first time the Athletic striker played in English soil, an young playing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in September 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he appeared in England, against Sunderland following that, he scored. His third outing, against the Citizens not long later, sure enough, he repeated the feat. When he returned to the city to take on Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in the 2017 season, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the forward says, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed deal, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. It’s a privilege.”
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At the training ground, Bilbao, the morning session is ready to commence; post-session, the quick travel to the airport and a further journey 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, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. Yet, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a final at home by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary flanked by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the UCL, where they are countercultural and debuting in a decade. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.
He considered it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. The son of the one-time rival player the former professional and a regular attendee at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a demotion and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the first team but with every stage you go through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then go home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, address that. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles repeatedly. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in 2020, aged 23, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in that season, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, dedication, confidence, and when eventually the requirement appears where you play, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. All the more so after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was involved suffering. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
