‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s road from rehabilitation to scoring with Athletic Bilbao

The initial occasion the Spanish forward played in England, an 18-year-old appearing for the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in September 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he played in the country, against Sunderland two months later, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City not long later, well, he repeated the feat. When he returned to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, also. “In fact,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what was necessary: he was replaced.

“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At the facility, the city, the morning session is about to start; post-session, the brief trip to the airport and another flight to the UK, this time to play Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a tough year for the club, partially owing to the demands of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in the continental stage. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.

In the three years since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the European competition, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.

Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the coach, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, the cut, a demotion and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.

“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the top level but with every stage you advance through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his first game and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and my knee gave way.

“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as something positive because it forced me to alter the outlook. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so do everything. Training, prehab. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. All those ‘silly things’: perform them.

“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have crashed into players countless occasions. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”

You also have to play. He left in tears in 2020, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and when eventually the requirement appears for your role, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks appreciate the experience. Particularly after the prior campaign which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|