‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to scoring with the Basque club

Whenhe first time the Athletic striker featured in England, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against the Black Cats following that, he converted. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he scored again. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. It was a superb volley, as well. “Actually,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they took him off.

“I got well angry,” the attacker says, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. I don’t know about interest from Newcastle, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I have no idea how true it was, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At Lezama, Bilbao, the morning session is set to begin; following that, the brief trip to the airport and another trip to Britain, this time to play 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 tough year for the club, due in part to the pressures of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. Yet, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and those that lie ahead, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.

In the the period since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by the English giants, and has ridden an historic vessel through the waterway surrounded by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are unique and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.

Guruzeta thought it difficult 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 club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the local academy that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he went through a torn cruciate, dropped, a drop in category and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.

“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the top level but each step you go through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his bow and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I tear my cruciate.

“A massive setback but In retrospect as something positive because it made me change the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it aids growth. You develop habits you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then head home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, you have everything, so utilize it all. Training, prehab. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All the minor details: perform them.

“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; no exceptions.”

Minutes are crucial. The striker moved upset in 2020, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. During his Sabadell spell in that season, he netted three goals in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day they need someone in your position, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

No wonder he says appreciate the experience. All the more so after last year which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|