Using a mental coach as part of a player’s preparation should not be taboo, according to the Switzerland and Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki has confirmed he uses a mental coach and has urged his fellow professionals to do the same.

Burki has been working with the coach throughout his career and the 27-year-old believes it has helped him significantly.

The Switzerland international insists discussing mental health should not be “a taboo” and has encouraged other players to do likewise.

“For me, it’s not a taboo at all,” Burki said to Eurosport.

“I started when I was 16, 17 and at that time I didn’t really know much about it, but I thought: it certainly can’t do any harm.

“It’s hard to get to know someone enough to feel comfortable so that you can open up, but anything that helps in such a way should be used as a player.

“You want to be as consistent as possible. I’ve used a mental coach from an early age and that’s how it continues to be.”

Switzerland international Burki has started both of Dortmund’s matches in the Bundesliga this season, retaining his status as first-choice goalkeeper despite the arrival of new head coach Lucien Favre and shot stopper Marwin Hitz.

He revealed how he almost pulled out of his trial with Young Boys in 2005 until his father intervened and convinced him that he wasn’t destined for another failure having been rejected by FC Thun a short time before.

“It was just out of a fear of failing again,” he said. “I was just disappointed that it didn’t work out with a club and I was insecure, but then came Young Boys, a supposedly bigger club than Thun.

“I was so down at that time, so disappointed with myself because I always put a lot of pressure on myself.

“My father really forced me to go there – and that ultimately saved my career.”

It was following that incident at age 16 that Burki decided to start visiting a mental coach, which is something he continues to do today despite being Dortmund’s first choice.