Agbonlahor: Stan Petrov is Villa's Captain in Spirit

Aston Villa's new captain Gabriel Agbonlahor (L) vies for the ball with Chelsea's John Terry (C). Photo by EPA/BGNES

Stiliyan Petrov stands essential for Aston Villa's team spirit, stated Gabriel Agbonlahor, who succeeded the Bulgarian as the team's captain.

"There's only one captain at Villa Park," said Agbonlahor, explaining that he views is position as just substituting for the Bulgaria, and remains ready to return the band to Petrov, once he makes his comeback.

End of March, in news shocking to the football world, it was revealed that Aston Villa's captain Stiliyan Petrov is diagnosed with leukaemia and will have to temporarily quit sports to fight the cruel illness.

Wednesday successor Agbonlahor commented that being given the captain's armband is a great honor for him, and that the fighting spirit of Petrov will help him in his task.

"It's obviously a big thing for me. Maybe it's not something I imagined when I first broke into the team, but it's a privilege to be following some great Villa captains. But as far as I'm concerned there's only one captain of this club," said the striker, as quoted by ESPN.co.uk.

"I am honoured to be wearing the captain's armband and I just wish it could have been in different circumstances. My biggest wish is that Stiliyan will come back and lead us again," added Agbonlahor.

In the interview, he recounted the way in which the Bulgarian's work inspired him, and shared that even at the time of diagnosis, Petrov was in a better physical condition than many other players in the club.

"I've known Stiliyan for nearly six years and he's a fighter so I'm confident he will come through this," reflected Agbonlahor.

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