‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from injury table to goals with Athletic
Thehe first time the Athletic striker played in the UK, an young appearing for the reserve team against Bundesliga youth at the English ground in September 2015, he scored. On his next visit he appeared in England, against Sunderland weeks after, he converted. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, indeed, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at the sports complex in 2017, he scored again. A spectacular strike, as well. “In fact,” he states, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed deal, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, it’s typical. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the typical thing. It’s unclear how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. I’m fortunate to be here.”
La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph
At the facility, the city, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to the airport and another flight to Britain, on this occasion to play Newcastle in the UCL on midweek. Uttering the name lights him up. This is proving a tough year for Athletic, partially owing to the requirements of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their last eight matches and lost against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. But, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.
In the the period since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a final at home by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in four decades. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are unique and returning after absence in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.
He considered it difficult enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that produced the coach, the former star and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he suffered a serious knee problem, dropped, a demotion and a return before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to enjoy the highlights of their lives.
“Entering the youth system not expecting to reach the first team but each step you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances between his first game and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but I look back on it as something positive because it made me change the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then return home, typical youth behavior. At Lezama, you have everything, so do everything. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, correct it. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. Every small aspect: perform them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have experienced contact repeatedly. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; no exceptions.”
You also have to play. Guruzeta departed in tears in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and if one day they need someone where you play, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
