‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s road from rehabilitation to scoring with the Basque club

Thehe initial occasion the Spanish forward featured in England, an teenage appearing for the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in September 2015, he scored. On his next visit he took the field in England, against the English side two months later, he scored. His third outing, against the Citizens soon after, well, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the city to play against the Red Devils at the sports complex in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: he was replaced.

“I was furious,” the Athletic striker says, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the latter period: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, it’s typical. No confirmation on Newcastle being interested, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the typical thing. I have no idea if it was accurate, but even if they had called, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At Lezama, the city, the morning session is set to begin; post-session, the short journey to Loiu and a further journey to England, now to take on the Magpies in the UCL on Wednesday. Uttering the name makes Guruzeta smile. This is proving a tough year for the team, due in part to the requirements of being here. Defeated late on in the derby on Saturday, they have managed just one win of their recent league fixtures and fallen to the Gunners and Dortmund in European competition. But, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and he feels a calm gratitude from him.

In the 36 months since he had come back to Athletic, the striker has been a final four contender in Europe, prevented from reaching a final at home by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by a million fans after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. He’s now the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in a long period. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. Born to the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that developed the coach, Xabi Alonso and the tactician. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after his first-team bow in August 2018, he experienced a ACL injury, being released, a relegation and a call back before he could earn his place, returning at 26 to experience the peak of his career.

“Joining the setup not expecting to reach the top level but with every stage you go through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and that period. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I tear my cruciate.

“It was a huge blow but I reflect on it as a turning point because it shifted the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You adopt practices you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I attended practice and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Hit the weights. Should your hips be uneven, correct it. With decent ankle function, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.

“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have been in battles 200,000 times. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but additional work remains. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”

Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed upset in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: temporary moves, ended deals. If you turn it round, work, believe, and when eventually they need someone in your position, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When the opportunity came, a fantasy realized. The trophy success, play in Europe, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

No wonder he says savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, sometimes, was involved suffering. From top scorer with a high tally, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|