The LA Galaxy had a nightmare season in 2017 that led the team board to embark on a revamp that saw players like Ola Kamara arriving. However, there is still need for the team to continue its rebuilding exercise as it seeks to jump back into the Western Conference playoff picture where bookmakers such as realbookies.com are tipping them to return. Among the players, the club is linked with is Zlatan Ibrahimović, the experienced Manchester United forward who has had a tough season at the club so far.
Risky gamble
LA Galaxy and Zlatan Ibrahimović have had a forgettable year. From the sports scores and stats, it’s easy to see how LA Galaxy has performed well below expectations while Ibrahimović has had an injury-plagued season with Manchester United in which he has fallen down the pecking order. As such, it’s a gamble really for LA Galaxy to pursue a player who is in the twilight of his career and has a niggling injury.
There is no doubt that a fit Ibrahimović will propel LA Galaxy to greater heights. Ibrahimović is a clinical striker who takes most of the chances that come his way and as such will be a good addition to the team. He is also good at retaining the ball and bringing others to play, he is also a good aerial threat from set pieces and can instill fear in the opposition, something that LA Galaxy lacked last season.
On the pitch, Ibrahimović is a player Galaxy needs but the challenge comes off the field of play. Sigi Schmid has been tasked with rebuilding the team and a host of other experienced and merging players have been brought in. This means there will be a host of different characters that Schmid has to deal with in the locker room as he tries to build the team chemistry.
That’s where the problem comes. Ibrahimović in his time in Europe from a young age has been known to have a sizable ego. Will Schmid be able to handle Ibrahimović’s ego while at the same time managing the entire team’s chemistry? That’s the challenge Schmid and LA Galaxy will have to contend with if and when Ibrahimović finally makes his switch.
Also, a year or so ago, Ibrahimović looked like a risk-free player when it came to injuries as he had not had a serious injury in a long time. However, all that changed after he ruptured his ACL. The challenge with LA Galaxy will, therefore, have to be to keep him in shape.
