New York City FC boss Jason Kreis is confident that Frank Lampard will receive a warm reception from supporters when he finally links up with the club in July.
The 36-year-old was due to join the newly-formed MLS outfit at the turn of the year, although his switch Stateside was temporarily postponed so he could see out the season at Manchester City.
A number of New York supporters aired their anger at Lampard's decision to delay his move, but coach Kreis believes that the star player will soon settle into his new surroundings.
"I think they will [receive him well]," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. "I think at the end of it all, when everybody is calmed down and settled down a little bit, that everybody can forgive and forget."
David Villa, another play to make a high-profile transfer to the American outfit, echoed these views. He said: "It would have been great if he was here now, but obviously for the football club the best thing is for him to stay in Manchester.
"We are only going to be focused to work hard so that when he joins in July, we can be a team that is really good and he can only improve us."
New York won their first official match on Tuesday night when they saw off St Mirren 2-0 in a friendly in Manchester.
Daniel Lewis
