‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: Guruzeta’s journey from rehabilitation to success with Athletic Bilbao

Whenhe initial occasion the Spanish forward played in English soil, an 18-year-old representing Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Adams Park in September 2015, he found the net. During his subsequent match he took the field in the country, against the English side two months later, he scored. His third outing, against Pep Guardiola’s team six weeks after that, indeed, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the northwest to play against the Red Devils at Leigh Sports Village in 2017, he scored again. A spectacular strike, too. “Actually,” he says, “it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored.” Thus the club did what was necessary: he was replaced.

“I became very upset,” the attacker says, before breaking into laughter. “Probably there’s a recording. We went to play United and I performed well. I wasn’t allowed to feature the final 45 minutes: my contract wasn’t finalized deal, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, as you’d expect. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I came across reports about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. It’s unclear if it was accurate, but supposing an offer came, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”

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At the facility, Bilbao, the early training is set to begin; after it, the short journey to Loiu airport and a further journey to Britain, this time to take on the Magpies in the UCL on midweek. Uttering the name lights him up. It’s turning out to be a difficult season for Athletic, partly because of the pressures of competing at this level. Defeated late on in the local rivalry, they have managed just one win of their past eight league games and fallen to the Gunners and the German side in the continental stage. But, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and future challenges, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.

In the the period since he had rejoined the team, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge along the Nervión river surrounded by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in a long wait. Currently he stands as the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and debuting in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he admits.

He considered it challenging enough just to earn a spot and he was right. The son of the ex-La Real star the former professional and a dedicated fan at the opposition side, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that nurtured the coach, Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola. He signed for Athletic at 17 but after his top-level debut in the 2018 season, he suffered a ACL injury, the cut, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.

“Entering the youth system thinking you won’t reach the first team but with every stage you advance through you’re still there and you can observe the approach. You get there but … you have to leave.” He featured briefly in six matches in six games between his debut and early 2019. “Subsequently I returned to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches there and I tear my cruciate.

“A massive setback but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it shifted the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it’s beneficial. You develop habits you didn’t have. It’s not about neglect, but I would go to training and then head home, like when you’re a kid. At the complex, all resources are available, so utilize it all. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, enhance it further. Every small aspect: execute them.

“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact countless occasions. They’re so strong. Reviewing old images: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. The setback taught me. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Teammates are set, really ready; no exceptions.”

Minutes are crucial. He left upset in that year, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in 40 games. With Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the he found his form. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. If you turn it round, work, believe, and if one day they need someone in your position, recall is possible. Preparation is key. When they decided to call again, it was a dream come true. The trophy success, European football, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

No wonder he says appreciate the experience. Particularly after the prior campaign 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|