‘All those little things – make sure you do them’: The striker’s road from injury table to goals with the Basque club

Thehe debut appearance the Athletic striker played in English soil, an young playing for the reserve team against German opponents at the English ground in fall 2015, he hit the target. On his next visit he played in the country, against the Black Cats weeks after, he converted. Another occasion, against the Citizens not long later, indeed, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to Manchester to face United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he scored again. An excellent finish, as well. “Truly,” he remarks, “it’s a top-class goal I’ve netted.” So Athletic did what they had to do: he was replaced.

“I got well angry,” the attacker reveals, before breaking into laughter. “I’m sure there’s footage. Our match against United and I was pretty good. They didn’t let me play the final 45 minutes: I was without a signed agreement, I kept finding the net, there were lots of rumours, you know how it is. I’m unsure regarding interest from Newcastle, but I remember reading about the Red Devils, the usual talk. I’m not certain the validity, but even if they had called, I would have wanted to stay at the club. I feel lucky to be here.”

La Real relieve strain with extraordinary derby triumph

At the training ground, the city, the morning session is ready to commence; after it, the quick travel to Loiu airport and another trip to England, now to play Newcastle in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It has become a tough year for the team, due in part to the requirements of competing at this level. Beaten in added time in the derby on Saturday, they have secured just a single victory of their past eight league games and lost against Arsenal and Dortmund in the continental stage. Yet, consider the broader view, the major occasions he’s experienced and upcoming events, and there’s a kind of quiet appreciation about him.

In the 36 months since he had returned to the club, Guruzeta has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by Manchester United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway surrounded by a huge crowd after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in four decades. Currently he stands as the club’s leading marksman in the Champions League, where they are unique and debuting in a long period. “I couldn’t have pictured this,” he says.

Guruzeta thought it hard enough just to break into the senior squad and that proved true. As the child of the ex-La Real star his father and a season ticket holder at the club that are now his rivals, the forward is from the Antiguoko academy, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the tactician. He joined Athletic at his teens but after his first-team bow in the 2018 season, he suffered a ACL injury, dropped, a demotion and a call back before he could finally secure an opportunity, coming back aged 26 to live the best days of his career.

“You go into the academy thinking you won’t reach the top level but with every stage you go through you’re persisting and you can notice the proximity. You get there but … you’re sent away.” He played six, nine, five, one, four and 20 minutes in a handful of matches between his debut and February 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. A few matches with them and I tear my cruciate.

“A severe disappointment but I look back on it as a beneficial experience because it made me change the way I saw things. The rehabilitation process is difficult, but it’s beneficial. You cultivate routines new to you. It’s not that you don’t look after yourself, but I did the sessions and then head home, typical youth behavior. In the facility, all resources are available, so do everything. Practice, prevention. Get in the gym. Should your hips be uneven, work on that. If your ankles are a 10, improve it more. Every small aspect: perform them.

“At the top level you’re going to collide with opponents who have been in battles 200,000 times. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my legs are chicken legs. Injuries are inevitable. Present-day images and the change is dramatic. Recovery revealed that. Sessions end, but additional work remains. Peers are prepared, really ready; you have to be too.”

You also have to play. Guruzeta departed upset in the pandemic season, in his early twenties, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in 2020-21, he scored three times in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the second half of 2021-22, the he found his form. “Many experience this: transfers, releases. Should you reverse it, dedication, confidence, and should the time come the requirement appears where you play, recall is possible. You have to be ready. Upon the recall, it was a dream come true. Lifting the cup, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”

No wonder he says appreciate the experience. Especially after the prior campaign which, on occasions, was about endurance. After being leading scorer with 16 in 2023-24, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|