Arsenal talisman Gabriel Jesus has discussed why he felt like he could play on for another 15 minutes after sustaining a knee injury while at the World Cup with Brazil.
Jesus was forced to undergo knee surgery following a tear in his meniscus which was sustained during Brazil's clash against Cameroon out in Qatar. At the time, the forward managed to continue playing for another quarter of an hour before he was withdrawn by boss Tite.
Initially, judging by the way Jesus responded it seemed like an innocuous knock that would barely hinder his World Cup campaign, let alone rule him out of club action for more than three months.
However, soon after the injury had occurred, Jesus discovered via national team doctors that he had suffered something far more serious than first expected and it would require surgery.
When reviewing the amount of time Jesus has spent out on the sidelines, it would be logical to assume it was a horror challenge that did the damage. On the contrary, the incident passed by with next to no attention and Jesus even continued to play on for another quarter of an hour.
As part of a docu-series produced by Arsenal and Adidas focusing on Jesus' recovery and rehabilitation process, the former Manchester City star has discussed the injury and what the road to full-fitness has looked like.
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"To be honest, I don't know what happened, I don't feel nothing but something changed. I kept playing without pain, discomfort, nothing. Then I get subbed off, nothing.
"Then after, on the bench it became so big I couldn't bend my knee and I was so scared you know. I've always been good with pain, I have played football since I was or 12 years old and have played with pain."
Jesus' Brazil and Arsenal colleague Gabriel Martinelli also discussed the fall-out of the injury in question and admitted he didn't panic at first.
"At half-time, he said he was feeling something in his knee, but I didn't think it was that bad," the 21-year-old explained to the documentary. "I think it was the day after the game, he went to do the scan and he was in the canteen where we were about to have lunch.
"He said there was something in his meniscus and he needed to have surgery."
"When you have this type of injury you get sad, you know? You could see in his face he was sad but at the same time you could see that energy that he has, that hunger that he has and he was telling everyone he was going to come back stronger and that's what he tried to do."
