‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from gurney to success with the Basque club
Thehe initial occasion the Spanish forward played in England, an teenage playing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in England, against the English side weeks after, he converted. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. When he returned to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in that year, he scored again. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: they took him off.
“I got well angry,” the attacker admits, and then he starts laughing. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized my contract, goals were flowing, many stories circulated, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about Man United, the typical thing. I have no idea how true it was, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
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At the facility, the Basque Country, the early training is about to start; after it, the quick travel to the airport and another trip to Britain, this time to play Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a tough year for the club, partially owing to the requirements of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the club’s first trophy in 40 years. He’s now Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
The player believed it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and his assessment was correct. The son of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, the forward is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the coach, the former star and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he suffered a torn cruciate, being released, a drop in category and a return before he could finally secure an opportunity, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but every phase you go through you’re persisting and you can see it getting closer. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his debut and that period. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games at that level and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I would go to training and then head home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Strength training. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. All the minor details: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. He left in tears in the pandemic season, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and should the time come a vacancy arises for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
No wonder he says savor the moment. All the more so after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|