‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to scoring with the Basque club
The initial occasion the Athletic striker played in the UK, an teenage playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Bundesliga youth at Adams Park in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in England, against the Black Cats two months later, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, well, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the northwest to face United at the sports complex in that year, he scored again. It was a superb volley, as well. “Truly,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” So Athletic did their duty: they substituted him.
“I was furious,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the second half: I was without a signed agreement, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, it’s typical. I’m unsure regarding Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about the Red Devils, the typical thing. It’s unclear the validity, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at the club. It’s a privilege.”
Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash
At the facility, the Basque Country, the early training is about to start; following that, the brief trip to the airport and another flight to England, now to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on midweek. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a tough year for the team, partly because of the demands of being here. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in European competition. However, consider the broader view, the big nights he has lived and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation from him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching the showpiece event by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway accompanied by countless supporters after winning the Copa del Rey, the club’s first trophy in four decades. Currently he stands as Athletic’s top scorer in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a decade. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.
He considered it difficult enough just to make the first team and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player his father and a season ticket holder at the opposition side, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that nurtured the coach, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at seventeen but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he suffered a serious knee problem, being released, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to experience the peak of the club’s history.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you advance through you’re still there and you can see it getting closer. You get there but … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his first game and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a turning point because it made me change the way I saw things. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, facilities are comprehensive, so take full advantage. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: execute them.
“In the first team you’re going to face physical challenges who have crashed into players repeatedly. Highly robust. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Present-day images and the improvement is clear. The setback taught me. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”
Minutes are crucial. He left emotionally in that year, in his early twenties, dropping into the second division. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and if one day a vacancy arises where you play, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
No wonder he says appreciate the experience. Especially after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was about endurance. Previously the main threat with sixteen goals, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
