Source: Team_Talk
Petrov impressed by Villa ambition
The Bulgarian midfielder has put pen to paper on a new four-year contract that will keep him at the Midlands club until the summer of 2013.
Petrov, who had 13 months left of his previous deal, has played a leading part in helping Villa secure an automatic European spot for the first time in 11 years.
He said: "I am delighted. It feels great to have sorted it all out. We've been talking about the contract for quite a few months and I've had a lot of people asking me about it.
"But I am really happy with the way the club handled it all. They left me to concentrate on the games and focus my mind on playing football.
"After a few meetings, everything has now been finalised and, in all honesty, I never had any doubts about it.
"When we started talking, the club assured me it was looking to build and become even more successful. That was enough for me."
Petrov will be 33 when the new deal expires and is confident he has made the right decision to remain with Martin O'Neill's side.
He said: "It was a massive decision for me and my family because it's the stage in my career when I needed to consider everything.
"But I am sure I made the right decision. I am hoping to make the Villa fans very happy in the years to come.
"I had a difficult period when I came here initially but have been able to show what I am capable of this season."
Petrov, meanwhile, believes Villa's bunch of young stars can help the club end their long wait to win some silverware next season.
Villa's last major success was their 1996 League Cup triumph and their only glimpse of further glory since then came when reaching the 2000 FA Cup final.
But Petrov has seen enough potential in the likes of Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner to predict that barren run may soon come to an end.
The Bulgarian international said: "Villa have made great progress this season. I think we have done really well with a young squad.
"We have some really promising stars of the future - and they will gel and get better and better in the next few seasons.
"That is what is promising for this club and I want to be part of that.
"Quite a few of the lads are 22-, 23-, 24-years-old and they want to learn and improve and want to be known as good players and achieve something.
"It's great we have players like that here. The manager wants to strengthen too and make the team better next season. That gives me a lot of hope and the fans too."
Petrov added: "This club wants to move forward every single year. I hope next season will be even more successful than this one.
"We want to win silverware - some trophies - that's our aim. It's going to be a big season.
"The other clubs know we are a good team and will expect more from us. We need to be up for that challenge."
