‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s road from injury table to scoring with the Basque club

Whenhe first time the Athletic striker played in English soil, an 18-year-old appearing for Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he appeared in British turf, against the English side two months later, he netted. The third time, against the Citizens not long later, well, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, also. “Actually,” he says, “it ranks among my finest in my career.” So Athletic did what they had to do: they substituted him.

“I got well angry,” the forward says, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed agreement, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the typical thing. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At the training ground, Bilbao, the day’s first practice is set to begin; following that, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to Britain, now to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Mentioning that phrase makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a difficult season for Athletic, partly because of the pressures of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and the German side in Europe. Yet, look at the overall situation, the big nights he has lived and future challenges, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation within him.

In the the period since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a final four contender in Europe, stopped at the gates a domestic final by United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary surrounded by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are unique and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, dropped, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the first team but with every stage you advance through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I suffered the ACL injury.

“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a turning point because it shifted the outlook. The rehabilitation process is challenging, but it helps. You adopt practices previously lacking. Previously I was casual, but I attended practice and then head home, as a youngster does. At Lezama, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Training, prehab. Hit the weights. With hip imbalance, address that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, enhance it further. Every small aspect: do them.

“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. I look at photos of me before: I had slender legs. Injuries are inevitable. Current photos and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed in tears in that year, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in numerous matches. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Players go through it: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, work, believe, and should the time come they need someone where you play, a return could happen. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. The trophy success, play in Europe, and qualify for Europe’s top tier … pfff.”

Little surprise he states appreciate the experience. Particularly after the previous season which, on occasions, was focused on persistence. After being leading scorer with sixteen goals, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|