‘Every minor detail – execute them’: Guruzeta’s journey from rehabilitation to scoring with the Basque club

Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker competed in English soil, an 18-year-old representing the youth squad against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at Wycombe’s stadium in the 2015 season, he hit the target. During his subsequent match he took the field in British turf, against the Black Cats following that, he scored. Another occasion, against the Citizens six weeks after that, sure enough, he scored again. As he revisited to the northwest to face United at Leigh’s ground in that year, he found the back of the net. A spectacular strike, also. “Actually,” he says, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” Therefore the team did their duty: they substituted him.

“I was furious,” the attacker reveals, and then he starts laughing. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was in fine form. I wasn’t allowed to feature the latter period: my contract wasn’t finalized agreement, goals were flowing, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I don’t know about the Magpies’ pursuit, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, the typical thing. It’s unclear the validity, but had they contacted me, I’d have chosen to stay at Bilbao. I’m fortunate to be here.”

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At the training ground, the Basque Country, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the brief trip to the airport and a further journey to the UK, now to take on the Magpies in the Champions League on the upcoming match. Just saying those two words brings a smile to his face. This is proving a difficult season for the team, partially owing to the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have won only one of their recent league fixtures and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in Europe. Yet, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and future challenges, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.

In the the period since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a semi-final participant, stopped at the gates a domestic final by Manchester United, and has ridden an historic vessel up the Nervión estuary accompanied by countless supporters after lifting the trophy, the first title in a long wait. Now he is the club’s leading marksman in the European competition, where they are countercultural and making their first appearance in ten years. “I never imagined this,” he states.

Guruzeta thought it challenging enough just to make the first team and that proved true. The son of the former Real Sociedad player the former professional and a dedicated fan at the team he now opposes, Guruzeta is from the Antiguoko academy, the local academy that nurtured Mikel Arteta, the former star and Andoni Iraola. His move to Athletic came at seventeen but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he suffered a torn cruciate, being released, a relegation and a return before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to live the best days of the club’s history.

“Joining the setup thinking you won’t reach the top level but with every stage you go through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You make it and … departure is necessary.” He featured briefly in six matches in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “And then I go back down to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I suffered the ACL injury.

“A massive setback but I reflect on it as a turning point because it forced me to alter the perspective. Recovering from a long-term injury is challenging, 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. At the complex, all resources are available, so take full advantage. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, address that. With decent ankle function, improve it more. 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. Reviewing old images: my physique was slight. Thus incidents occur. Current photos and it’s totally different. Recovery revealed that. Training finishes, but further effort is needed. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

Minutes are crucial. Guruzeta departed emotionally in the pandemic season, at 23 years old, joining the second tier. During his Sabadell spell in the 20-21 campaign, he scored three times in numerous matches. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. Should you reverse it, effort, faith, and should the time come they need someone in your position, they might come back for you. You have to be ready. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

Understandably he remarks savor the moment. Especially after the prior campaign which, at times, was involved suffering. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, his output dropped to seven in {15 games more|additional matches|