POGBA: I’VE ONLY JUST GOT OVER COVID
PAUL Pogba believes he is almost back to his best after the United midfielder opened up on the effect Covid-19 had on him in pre-season.
The Reds midfielder tested positive for the virus just before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad were due to return to training and he missed two weeks of pre-season as he was forced to self-isolate.
But the 27-year-old has revealed just how much the virus took out of him and how long it has taken him to feel back to full fitness this season.
Pogba’s start in the 3-1 win at West Ham was his first for United in more than a month and it was his best performance of the campaign so far as well, scoring a superb equaliser that kick-started another impressive comeback for the Reds.
“It’s strange, it’s hard to explain because you wouldn’t understand. Even in training, I would say to the fitness coach that I feel strange,” Pogba said when asked how much Covid had taken out of him.
“It’s not me. I get tired very fast
I had a long-term injury, I came back, I wasn’t ready physically, I felt weakness
Paul Pogba
and I’m out of breath really fast. “The first game of the season, I couldn’t run. I was trying. I spoke with the manager, ‘I will start the game and let’s see,’ but I was very out of breath and it took me a long time to get me back to my fitness and to get back physically good.”
The French World Cup winner feels he is now close to that standard though, having completed just his third 90 minutes for United this season. He missed a large chunk of last season with an injury as well, but feels he is now close to finding his best form once again.
“Obviously it feels good to play. The lads have been playing really well as well,” he said. “I had an injury, a long-term injury, I came back, it was strange for me. I wasn’t ready physically I would say. I felt weakness physically.
“You know, just to play the 90 minutes and carrying on with the games... It’s such a difference.
“I’m finding my rhythm as well. I feel so much better [on Saturday], I felt I could go again, control the game, getting the ball. That’s what I like, myself. That’s what I think is good for the team.
“I’m a team player. As long as the team wins, that’s the most important. I find myself good and we want to win. That’s why I came here and that’s why I want to be successful.”