‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s journey from gurney to goals with Athletic
The debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in England, an teenage appearing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in September 2015, he scored. On his next visit he took the field in England, against Sunderland following that, he converted. His third outing, against Manchester City six weeks after that, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to take on Manchester United at the sports complex in 2017, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, as well. “In fact,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did what was necessary: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was in fine form. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Man United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Athletic. I’m fortunate to be here.”
Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash
At Lezama, the Basque Country, the morning session is set to begin; after it, the quick travel to Loiu airport and another flight to England, now to play Newcastle in the Champions League on Wednesday. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the club, partly because of the demands of being here. Losing in stoppage time in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary flanked by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. Now he is the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that developed the Arsenal manager, the legendary midfielder and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at his teens but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a drop in category and a call back before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to enjoy the highlights of his career.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the first team but each step you advance through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his first game and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and my knee gave way.
“A massive setback but I look back on it as something positive because it shifted the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then go home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. All those ‘silly things’: do them.
“Among professionals you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players repeatedly. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”
Game time is essential. The striker moved upset in 2020, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. If you turn it round, effort, faith, and should the time come a vacancy arises for your role, recall is possible. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, European football, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”
No wonder he says appreciate the experience. Especially after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
