In the Outer: Melbourne Victory forward Kosta Barbarouses casts his eye over Roma v Man City match

MELBOURNE Victory forward Kosta Barbarouses gives his analysis of the AS Roma v Manchester City match to Matt Windley.

Francesco Totti of AS Roma controls the ball from Eliaquim Mangala of Manchester City, during the second match of the International Champions Cup, between AS Roma and Manchester City, played at the MCG in Melbourne, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. (AAP Image/Joe Castro) NO ARCHIVING

MATT WINDLEY: So is this your first “expert commentary” gig?

KOSTA BARBAROUSES: Yes definitely - hopefully not the last.

MW: Fair few Liverpool fans in the crowd if Raheem Sterling is copping boos already?

KB: I don’t like that, man. Coming for an exhibition game, no one wants to hear that - it makes me cringe a bit.

MW: Fair answer back though, goal in the third minute - finally the International Champions Cup comes to life.

KB: It was just a classic turnover in midfield. You could see when City was pressing, the two strikers were pressing on the outside of the centre backs and it gave them the advantage when they got the ball. The left fullback for Roma followed one of the runners and kept Sterling onside. Could have played it across for a tap in, but showed a lot of confidence.

MW: Doesn’t matter what level it is, does it, midfield turnovers can kill you going the other way can’t they?

Raheem Sterling in action for Manchester City on his debut.

KB: A lot of teams work on that from a defensive perspective as well, we definitely do. Because you know that in transition, if you win it back, within two or three seconds it can lead to a shot on goal.

MW: Bloody hell, no goals the other night, now two in eight minutes - and a cracker to Miralem Pjanić from distance.

KB: I brought the goals with me. Roma kept possession for the first time all game and Man City just dropped off too deep - that was a great strike.

MW: So it’s a contrast in styles these two teams isn’t it?

KB: Roma’s build up is a lot slower, three central midfielders are very compact, but they’ve got a very good range of passing. City, when Roma get past the half way, they’re trying to press them and then break quickly on the counter with two strikers playing a bit wider. But they’re a lot more patient and comfortable in possession when they’ve got the ball further up field.

MW: So how does Sterling fit in when Sergio Aguero is back on deck.

KB: Well they’re playing a 4-1-3-2, so I reckon they’ll play up front together.

MW: It’s the cliche question, but what’s the difference between the way these guys set up and the way A-League teams do?

Roma’s Miralem Pjanic celebrates scoring against Manchester City.

KB: City, especially, the players work very hard to get in between the lines, like most good teams do. In the A-League, there’s only a few teams that try to do that. But a few of the A-League clubs now play with a very set structure, which is what these big clubs do. You can see, with us, Sydney and Adelaide, everyone knows their roles pretty well. Other teams know that, but then it’s another thing to stop it.

MW: So what’s the difference between yourselves and the likes of City and Roma.

KB: I think it’s getting closer and closer. Physically I think we’re very close, the A-League is a very physical league and most teams are pretty fit. Technically I think there’s still a bit of a gap and that’s something that’s a little bit out of the clubs hands because these guys are able to pay millions of dollars to guys like David Silva and Sterling who can turn games on their head. Obviously we’ve got guys in the league who can do that, but would they be able to do it to these big guns, that’s the question. Even with Brisbane and Adelaide against Liverpool, they matched them for a lot of the time, but they just didn’t have that same cutting edge - and that’s why they get paid the big bucks.

Originally published as In the Outer: Melbourne Victory forward Kosta Barbarouses casts his eye over Roma v Man City match