Martin Petrov admits he's amazed by the passion of his new Manchester City fans.
The former Atletico Madrid winger told the Manchester Evening News: "Whenever I have been out and about in Manchester having a meal, City fans have always been quick to come up and wish me luck, and that is great.
"My relationship with a club's supporters is very important, but I always feel that you have to earn their admiration and respect through what you do on the pitch and conducting yourself properly off it too."
On reports that City boss Sven Goran Eriksson brought him to Eastlands to be a dressing room leader, Petrov added: "I don't know about me being a leader. First of all, I have to prove on the pitch that I deserve a place in the side and justify that such a great and famous manager has put faith in me after bringing me from Spain.
"I feel that, wherever I have been, I am a player that always gives 100 per cent. That is the way it has to be.
"Obviously, you cannot be brilliant every week but you can play from the heart and that is what I have always tried to do.
"It obviously makes a player feel better when he knows the manager admires his talent.
"He is one of the big reasons that I wanted to come here, and I like the fact that we are encouraged to move the ball forward quickly and attack whenever possible.
"He is a quiet manager but managers usually are when the team is winning!
"My main aim now is to make the fans happy. I have been greatly encouraged by their welcome and the way they support the team."
