‘All those silly things – do them’: The striker’s journey from injury table to goals with the Basque club

The initial occasion the Spanish forward featured in England, an teenage representing Athletic Bilbao B against German opponents at Wycombe’s stadium in fall 2015, he scored. During his subsequent match he took the field in the country, against Sunderland two months later, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City six weeks after that, indeed, he repeated the feat. As he revisited to the city to play against the Red Devils at Leigh’s ground in 2017, he found the back of the net. It was a superb volley, too. “In fact,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve ever scored.” Therefore the team did what they had to do: he was replaced.

“I got well angry,” the forward reveals, and then he starts laughing. “Probably there’s a recording. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They kept me out of the latter period: I was without a signed deal, I was scoring goals, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. No confirmation on the Magpies’ pursuit, but I came across reports about Manchester United, the usual talk. It’s unclear the validity, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

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At Lezama, the Basque Country, the day’s first practice is ready to commence; following that, the quick travel to the airport and a further journey to the UK, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the UCL on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words makes Guruzeta smile. It has become a tough year for Athletic, due in part to the demands of their participation. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have won only one of their past eight league games and been defeated by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, take in the big picture, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.

In the three years since he had come back to Athletic, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle the showpiece event by United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by a huge crowd after lifting the trophy, the team’s initial silverware in 40 years. Now he is Athletic’s top scorer in the European competition, where they are distinctive and making their first appearance in a long period. “This was beyond my dreams,” he states.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to make the first team and his assessment was correct. Born to the one-time rival player his father and a dedicated fan at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is a graduate of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that produced the coach, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. He joined Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in August 2018, he experienced a torn cruciate, the cut, a drop in category and a recall before he could earn his place, coming back aged 26 to experience the peak of his career.

“Entering the youth system doubting you’ll make the top level but each step you advance through you’re still there and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in half a dozen appearances between his debut and early 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Five, six games there and my knee gave way.

“A severe disappointment but In retrospect as a turning point because it forced me to alter the perspective. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it helps. You cultivate routines previously lacking. It’s not about neglect, but I did the sessions and then return home, typical youth behavior. At the complex, you have everything, so take full advantage. Practice, prevention. Hit the weights. If your hips aren’t balanced, address that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. All the minor details: execute them.

“In the first team you’re going to collide with opponents who have experienced contact 200,000 times. Extremely powerful. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Practice concludes, but there’s more to do. Peers are prepared, really ready; the same applies.”

Game time is essential. He left in tears in 2020, in his early twenties, joining the second tier. With Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in forty appearances. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “It’s a common path: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and when eventually a vacancy arises where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and make the UCL … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Particularly after the previous season which, at times, was involved suffering. From top scorer with a high tally, last season he got seven in {15 games more|additional matches|