Paul Pogba admits he “couldn’t run” and was left “out of breath really fast” as he lifted the lid on the toll coronavirus took on his fitness.
Pobga, 27, tested positive for Covid-19 in late August and returned to training with Manchester United in time for the start of the season.
But the midfielder was clearly out of sorts in his first appearance, managing just 67 minutes in the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Pogba was benched soon after, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preferring the more dynamic presence of Fred and Scott McTominay in the centre of the park.
But the Frenchman marked his return to the starting XI with a vital equalising goal – his first in the Premier League this season – as he played 90 minutes in the 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday.
Pogba is relieved to have overcome his bout of coronavirus, which severely hit his fitness levels at the start of the campaign.
“It’s strange, it’s hard to explain because you wouldn’t understand,” Pogba told MUTV . “Even in training, I would say to the fitness coach that I feel strange.
“It’s not me. I get tired very fast 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.”