The wait is almost over: We are just 3 days from #MLSisBack, the same number of days as goals Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in El Trafico last season.
What does Zlatan Ibrahimovic have for an encore?
The larger-than-life personality delivered a sensational debut season in MLS, with 22 goals and 10 assists in just 27 appearances (2,143 minutes) and earned the 2018 MLS Newcomer of the Year award. Despite his exploits, the LA Galaxy fell one point short of the playoffs.
Ibrahimovic started better than everyone but himself could have imagined, scoring the game-tying (which won AT&T 2018 MLS Goal of the Year) and game-winning goals against rival LAFC in the first meeting between the clubs.
It was an incredible entrance.
The 37-year-old doesn't plan on slowing down in 2019, either, as he pledged to "break all the records" in MLS. It's always interesting with Zlatan.
The Galaxy, meanwhile, are looking to end their two-season playoff drought, a foreign concept to the storied club which has missed the postseason in only two stretches in club history. LA appointed Guillermo Barros Schelotto as head coach in the offseason, who in turn is expected to name Zlatan captain after giving him the armband in the club's final preseason tuneup.
Schelotto can rely on Ibrahimovic's expectation of excellence.
“Normally where I go, I win, and I didn’t succeed with that here,” Ibrahimovic said in January. “It was not OK. I think the fans deserved more than what they got, they deserve more credit for what they have done throughout the season and we didn’t even make the playoffs. For me, that is something new. It’s catastrophic not to make the playoffs.”
Ibra's projected strike partner Ola Kamara looks set to depart the Galaxy for the Chinese Super League, placing even more of a burden on the Swede's shoulders.
How many goals will Zlatan score in 2019?
That's unclear, but one thing is certain. The ride will be interesting.
It's always interesting with Zlatan.
