Kai Havertz has revealed the horror of his Covid hell – and admitted it took him two months to get back to full fitness.
Chelsea forward Havertz, 21, tested positive for the virus in November and only missed three games but says the effects took much longer to overcome.
Havertz said: “It was very hard for me and it took me three or four weeks to get well, and after that I didn’t feel 100 per cent either. To be 100 per cent I think it took me two months, or something like that, so it was very hard.
“It was a big sickness. I smelt nothing. I tasted nothing and I just lay the whole day in bed, and had back pain. I’m that it’s in the past now and hopefully I will not get it again.”
Havertz took time to settle in English football after his £71million move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer and is now finding his feet but admitted his first year in England has been hugely difficult.
“It’s a strange feeling when you come to a new country and you have to be in quarantine and things like that. It wasn’t easy for me but I think things are going to change soon and I’m looking forward to that,” he said.
“Everything changes when you arrive in a new country, change club and move out of your comfort zone. It was the same for me – everything changed – but it’s nice to have a change in your life sometimes.
“When you have watched all these big Premier League games on the TV over the years and then you are here, in these big stadiums, it’s just nice to see it all.
“Of course with fans it would be better but I hope to get that experience next year. I’m just very happy to be here and to make these memories that I will have for my whole life. That’s what counts for me.”
Now there is a chance to finish his first year in English football with silverware as Chelsea have the FA Cup final, are in the Champions League final and are on course for the top four.
But Havertz says winning the FA Cup has always been special. He added: “I always dreamed to play in the FA Cup final and I think it’s very nice that they will have some fans back in the stadium.
“So it will be a very good atmosphere and I’m looking forward to it. We know it is a hard match for us but we will give our all to win the trophy and that’s our aim.”
