Manchester City and Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan believes that players should be free to express themselves with the media.

Gundogan is a recent Premier League winner with Manchester City. The player feels that some interviews with pros can be a little stunted, given players are afraid to say the wrong thing to the media.

He also referred to the moment when Per Mertesacker opened up about the depression he faced during the latter part of his Arsenal career.

Gundogan spoke to DAZN about his fellow countryman and said: "I didn't read the whole interview [with Mertesacker] but his statements are not bad. Quite the contrary, it's great that he can handle it so openly. Many probably cannot."

"I wish that sometimes there is a little more honesty and that you can discuss things openly. There should not be taboo subjects.

"I have no problem with answering questions honestly or even looking outside the box and answering private questions.

"It's bad if you disguise yourself, I honestly cannot see it anymore when you're after the game, always asked the same questions and give pre-programmed answers.

"I do not know if there is a solution for that. I don't know if you can, want or should change it. But sometimes I just wish for a little more.

"I don't know if that must necessarily be other topics, but somehow these interviews seem not posed but pre-programmed and predictable. I cannot imagine anyone sitting at home looking at this being able to extract something new from it. At least I am not, and I've already seen such interviews many times and I've already given such interviews.

"I think both sides [footballers and media] have to change."