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

The debut appearance the Athletic striker featured in England, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against German opponents at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he took the field in British turf, against the Black Cats weeks after, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City soon after, sure enough, he scored again. As he revisited to Manchester to face United at Leigh Sports Village in that year, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, also. “In fact,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did their duty: he was replaced.

“I became very upset,” the attacker admits, then chuckling. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, it’s typical. No confirmation on interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about Man United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

Real Sociedad release pressure with surreal victory in Basque derby like no other

At Lezama, Bilbao, the early training is about to start; after it, the short journey to Loiu airport and another trip to Britain, now to play Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Uttering the name lights him up. It’s turning out to be a tough year for the club, partially owing to the demands of their participation. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and the German side in Europe. But, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.

In the three years since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a final at home by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel along the Nervión river flanked by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in a long wait. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the UCL, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.

The player believed it difficult enough just to make the first team and he was right. Born to the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the local academy 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, dropped, a drop in category and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.

“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but each step you go through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I suffered the ACL injury.

“A massive setback but I reflect on it as something positive because it shifted the outlook. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it helps. 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, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.

“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have been in battles repeatedly. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. The setback taught me. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”

Game time is essential. The striker moved upset in 2020, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears for your role, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. When the opportunity came, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Little surprise he states savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, sometimes, was about endurance. From top scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|