‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s path from rehabilitation to success with Athletic
Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in England, an 18-year-old appearing for the youth squad against Bundesliga youth at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he took the field in the country, against Sunderland following that, he converted. Another occasion, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, sure enough, he repeated the feat. When he returned to Manchester to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he says, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” Thus the club did their duty: they substituted him.
“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. Our match against United and I was in fine form. They kept me out of the latter period: I was without a signed my contract, goals were flowing, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the typical thing. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the facility, the Basque Country, the morning session is set to begin; after it, the quick travel to Loiu and a further journey to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. It’s turning out to be a challenging campaign for the club, partly because of the demands of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in European competition. Yet, look at the overall situation, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection from him.
In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, stopped at the gates the showpiece event by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the first title in four decades. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are countercultural and returning after absence in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he says.
The player believed it difficult enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. The son of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that developed the Arsenal manager, Xabi Alonso and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he suffered a ACL injury, dropped, a drop in category and a call back before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to live the best days of his career.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the senior squad but each step you advance through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … you have to leave.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and my knee gave way.
“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as something positive because it made me change the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then go home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. If your ankles are a 10, make it a 12 or a 14. All the minor details: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players repeatedly. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
You also have to play. He left emotionally in 2020, aged 23, moving to a lower level. With Sabadell in 2020-21, he netted three goals in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the following period, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. With a turnaround, dedication, confidence, and if one day the requirement appears for your role, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. To then win the Copa del Rey, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Particularly after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
