‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s path from rehabilitation to goals with Athletic
Thehe debut appearance the Spanish forward played in the UK, an 18-year-old appearing for the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against the Black Cats following that, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. As he revisited to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he scored again. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve netted.” So Athletic did their duty: he was replaced.
“I became very upset,” the forward reveals, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the second half: I was without a signed my contract, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, it’s typical. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Man United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain the validity, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
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At the facility, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; after it, the short journey to Loiu and another trip to the UK, now to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for Athletic, due in part to the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the 36 months since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary flanked by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in ten years. “This was beyond my dreams,” he says.
He considered it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. The son of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy that developed the coach, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after making his senior debut in that summer, he went through a torn cruciate, dropped, a demotion and a return before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to live the best days of his career.
“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 make it and … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his bow and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a turning point because it made me change the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is hard, but it helps. You adopt practices you didn’t have. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. With decent ankle function, improve it more. Every small aspect: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved upset in the pandemic season, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in that season, he scored three times in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and if one day they need someone in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, at times, was involved suffering. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
