It has been a difficult few years for İlkay Gündoğan.

After an incredibly promising time under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, the now Manchester City midfielder has endured a bit of a roller coaster ride in terms of fortunes.

Ravaged by terrible knee troubles, Gündoğan spent months on the rehabilitation table wondering if he would ever be capable of reaching the heights he once did.

He missed out on several opportunities to represent Germany at major tournaments with the 2014 World Cup undoubtedly coming as the most painful.

And, when he did finally get his chance to play on the biggest stage football has to offer in Russia this year, the Germans were simply woeful, spectacularly crashing out in the group stages.

On top of all that, Gündoğan has spent the best part of 2018 caught up in a vicious media storm after he and Mesut Ozil posed for a picture alongside the Turkish president.

The picture sparked off a fierce racism row that ultimately led to Ozil retiring from the international game.

The midfield duo found themselves in a very uncomfortable situation when their very own fans began to boo them during German home games.

In the end, they were even turned upon by some of their teammates.

Now, Gündoğan has revealed the emotional toll being turned on by the fans took on him when speaking in a recent interview with German newspaper WAZ.

Referring to Germany’s 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in the run-up to the World Cup, Gündoğan was painfully honest.

“After the game, I locked myself in the toilet,” he admitted.

“I was angry, disappointed and sad.”

“But I know that you have to go through difficult moments in life.

“I wanted to face it then and I want to do that in the future. If I’m selected now, I’m ready.”

Eye-opening stuff.

It is sometimes forgotten that footballers are humans too.

It must have been a dreadful shock for Gündoğan, who has given so much to German football whilst remaining a consummate professional through all his difficulties, to find himself being booed in Leverkusen.

However, he showed his quality with how he finished off the interview, reinforcing that he still has a desire to play for Die Mannschaft.

You can only hope that he absolutely smashes it next time he takes to the field for Germany.

Go on, Ilkay.