The Red & Black return to CommBank Stadium on Saturday night, determined to respond following a tough Sydney Derby at Allianz Stadium.
With the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder tighter than ever, the Wanderers are eager to assert themselves in a key clash under the lights against Melbourne City.
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Forward Kosta Barbarouses spoke to the media ahead of the fixture, reflecting on the club’s approach following last week’s result.
“Just try to move on quickly and bounce back. We didn’t linger on it too much and sort of took a fresh approach this week,” explained Barbarouses.
“There’s a lot of changes. So we’re just trying to usher in new things and new ideas. Meanwhile, keeping everyone’s spirits and confidence high. We’re just trying to manage that.”
Barbarouses also highlighted the impact of new signing Ryan Fraser, who has already made a strong impression in his first appearances for the club.
“Having him around is great for the group, especially the younger guys, to learn from and see football from a different perspective. I’ve loved having him here so far – it’s been a really good addition.”
With the league tighter than ever, Barbarouses stressed the importance of focusing on results and taking control of the team’s destiny.
“It’s so tight at the moment. Everyone’s beating everyone. We don’t want to get too caught up with other results. The simplest way is obviously to win football games. We need to start showing that we are the team that’s on paper,” said Barbarouses.
“Last week was tough, but for the most part, we haven’t been the worst team in most of the games. We just need to start letting the scoreboard reflect that.”
Looking ahead to Melbourne City, Barbarouses acknowledged the challenge of facing a well-coached side but expressed confidence in the Wanderers’ approach.
“I think they’re really well-coached. They focus a lot on patterns and possession-based football. But there are areas to exploit. Every team has a bit of give and take. It will be a good game,” said Barbarouses.
“We had a good game against them in round one, but both teams have changed a little since then. It’ll be interesting to see how the matchup unfolds, and it should be a good game.”
Saturday night represents an important opportunity for the Wanderers to respond in front of their Members and fans, aiming to turn moments of promise from recent matches into a full 90-minute performance.
With both sides seeking momentum and consistency, the fixture is shaping up to be a high-intensity contest under the lights in Parramatta.
