‘All those silly things – do them’: Guruzeta’s road from injury table to scoring with the Basque club

The first time the Athletic striker competed in the UK, an teenage playing for the reserve team against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in the 2015 season, he found the net. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against the Black Cats weeks after, he scored. His third outing, against Manchester City not long later, indeed, he repeated the feat. Upon his comeback to the city to face United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he did it once more. It was a superb volley, too. “Truly,” he says, “it’s a top-class goal in my career.” So Athletic did what they had to do: he was replaced.

“I became very upset,” the attacker reveals, then chuckling. “Probably there’s a recording. We traveled to face United and I performed well. They didn’t let me play the second half: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I was scoring goals, speculation was rife, as you’d expect. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I remember reading about Man United, the typical thing. I have no idea how true it was, but even if they had called, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. It’s a privilege.”

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At the facility, Bilbao, the morning session is set to begin; following that, the short journey to Loiu airport and another flight to Britain, on this occasion to face Newcastle in the European elite competition on Wednesday. Uttering the name brings a smile to his face. It has become a challenging campaign for the club, due in part to the pressures of their participation. Losing in stoppage time in the local rivalry, they have won only one of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and the German side in Europe. However, look at the overall situation, the memorable evenings and upcoming events, and a sense of thankful reflection within him.

In the the period since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, prevented from reaching a final at home by Manchester United, and has traveled on a traditional boat up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the team’s initial silverware in four decades. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are unique and returning after absence in ten years. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he admits.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to earn a spot and he was right. The son of the former Real Sociedad player Xabi Guruzeta and a season ticket holder at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is a graduate of Antiguoko, the San Sebastián club that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the former star and the tactician. He signed for Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in that summer, he went through a serious knee problem, being released, a relegation and a recall before he could truly get a chance, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of their lives.

“You go into the academy doubting you’ll make the senior squad but with every stage you go through you’re remaining and you can observe the approach. You arrive and then … you have to leave.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in half a dozen appearances 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 severe disappointment but I reflect on it as a turning point because it shifted the perspective. Healing from a serious ailment is hard, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines new to you. Previously I was casual, but I did the sessions and then head home, like when you’re a kid. In the facility, you have everything, so utilize it all. Work, precaution. Strength training. If your hips aren’t balanced, correct it. Assuming ankle mobility is good, make it a 12 or a 14. Every small aspect: perform them.

“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles repeatedly. Highly robust. I look at photos of me before: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. Injury made me see that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; the same applies.”

Minutes are crucial. He left emotionally in 2020, at 23 years old, dropping into the second division. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in forty appearances. During his Amorebieta stint in the latter part of the season, the scoring picked up. “Many experience this: loans, terminated contracts. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and if one day a vacancy arises for your role, they might come back for you. Preparation is key. Upon the recall, a fantasy realized. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

No wonder he says savor the moment. Especially after the previous season which, at times, was about endurance. From top scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|