El Trafico: Ibrahimovic could make Galaxy debut against LAFC
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Mar 29, 2018
Photo: LA Galaxy
Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived in Los
Angeles on Thursday night and will train with the Galaxy on Friday.
The big question is whether he will play on Saturday when the Galaxy hosts LAFC in the first meeting of the MLS's new
Los Angeles rivals.
"I think there's a chance he can play a part in the game," said Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid earlier in the week. "I don't think he's going to play 90 minutes, but
we have to evaluate once he gets here. It's a long flight and [we have to] see how he feels."
More important for Schmid is to allow Ibrahimovic to meet his new teammates.
"Friday is a pretty easy practice the day before the game," he added. "We just expect him to be able to be a part of the group and start to introduce himself to the group. It's all about team and he
knows that. He's been part of successful teams and he knows what it takes to be able to compete, so it's just the first step."
Photo: Jon Shard/LA Galaxy
How Zlatan fits into the
Galaxy remains to be seen. The Galaxy acquired forward Ola Kamara in the offseason, sending Gyasi Zardes and $400,000 in TAM (plus $100,000 in conditional TAM) to Columbus, for the
Norwegian, who has scored 35 goals in 61 MLS games, including one in his Galaxy debut, a 2-1 win over Portland.
After the 0-0 tie at Vancouver on Saturday, Schmid said he'd consider
several formations but was confident Ibrahimovic and Kamara can play together.
"At times," said Schmid, "Zlatan's played very well with that kind of a player. I'm sure we can establish a
connection and a combination there."
Zlatan will play well with anyone...his track record speaks for itself...the question is, will his teammates be able to play with him.
Just watched Zlatan bag a brace. In 20+ minutes he showed his quality: torched a keeper who hasn't had to deal with a world class striker, then a headed goal to win the game. But Ibra also was showing his teammates how he wanted to play with them by chesting a ball down into the channel he wanted his partner to run through (player didn't make the run). Galaxy were pathetic in the first half but Ibra showed his team the way forward. Exciting match for a neutral to watch, Bob Bradley lucky's he's bald already else would have pulled out all his hair after LAFC conceded four 2nd-half goals in a match they were up 3-0.