Martin Petrov says Bolton Wanderers fans are seeing a calmer version of himself this season.
The 32-year-old believes that after sustaining two serious knee injuries at Manchester City, his return to regular first team football at the Reebok has helped him put things into some perspective.
"I have had too many problems with referees and officials in the past," he told the Bolton News.
"I have made too many mistakes in my career and now that I'm 32 I know that some children look at me. When they play football I don't want them to say 'I want to be like Petrov because he has a problem with referees and no respect' I want them to say 'I want to be like Petrov because he is fast, or makes good goals, or good sense, or is smiling, etcetera.
"I know I have had this problem but that is my character and I can't change it. I can only control it more.
"It is hard to say when exactly that changed for me, but maybe when I had a couple of bad injuries. I sat in the hospital bed or at home and cannot play football, so you think then what is more wrong - a referee not giving me a foul or that somebody caught you? Now I play football. I have to be intelligent."
