‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from gurney to goals with Athletic
The debut appearance the Spanish forward played in the UK, an 18-year-old playing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he scored. The second time he appeared in British turf, against the English side two months later, he netted. The third time, against Pep Guardiola’s team not long later, well, he scored again. When he returned to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he states, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did their duty: they took him off.
“I became very upset,” the forward admits, before breaking into laughter. “There must be a video somewhere. We went to play United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I hadn’t yet signed my contract, I was scoring goals, many stories circulated, as you’d expect. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the usual talk. I have no idea how true it was, but supposing an offer came, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”
Real Sociedad ease tension with bizarre win in unique Basque clash
At the facility, the Basque Country, the morning session is about to start; post-session, the quick travel to Loiu airport and a further journey to England, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the Champions League on midweek. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a challenging campaign for the team, due in part to the pressures of being here. Defeated late on in the weekend clash, they have managed just one win of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection about him.
In the three years since he had rejoined the team, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river accompanied by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. Now he is the top goal-getter in the UCL, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he states.
The player believed it challenging enough just to break into the senior squad and he was right. Born to the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after making his senior debut in August 2018, he went through a serious knee problem, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could finally secure an opportunity, returning at 26 to experience the peak of their lives.
“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the top level but each step you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in six games between his debut and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I suffered the ACL injury.
“A severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a beneficial experience because it shifted the outlook. Healing from a serious ailment is challenging, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits new to you. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then return home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. Every small aspect: do them.
“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact repeatedly. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Thus incidents occur. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Injury made me see that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
You also have to play. He left emotionally in 2020, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he netted three goals in forty appearances. With Amorebieta in the following period, the scoring picked up. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and should the time come a vacancy arises in your position, they might come back for you. Readiness is vital. When the opportunity came, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, play in Europe, and make the UCL … pfff.”
Little surprise he states savor the moment. Particularly after last year which, on occasions, was about endurance. From top scorer with sixteen goals, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
