Products You May Like
Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have brought plenty of goals with him in his two years with the LA Galaxy, but according to Sebastian Lletget, there’s a “better feel” around the team now that he’s gone.
Lletget, 27, opened up about life in MLS with Ibrahimovic, who left at the end of the 2019 season for a second stint with AC Milan, and said that despite the goals and offensive prowess, he was left frustrated playing alongside the former Sweden international.
“There’s definitely a better feel around the place for sure,” Lletget said on BSI: The Podcast this week. “As far as chemistry, that’s only going to build with time.”
Ibrahimovic scored 52 goals for the Galaxy in two seasons in which they failed to make the playoffs one year and were bounced from the postseason by crosstown rivals LAFC in his second.
However, Lletget maintained the scoring return was often not worth playing alongside the mercurial Ibrahimovic despite his prowess in front of goal.
“You couldn’t be free,” Lletget said. “It was super frustrating. You feel like you want to literally take your boots off and just walk off the field.
“It’s tough to play against him and tougher to play with him.”
Now the Galaxy are settling into a new reality, with Mexico star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez brought in to help make up for some of the goals that Ibrahimovic took with him to Serie A.
Asked recently if he felt any pressure to fill the vacancy left by Ibrahimovic, the Mexico international said no.
Hernandez said: “Not really, because he didn’t win a championship. If he won a championship that would change everything.”
The Galaxy drew 1-1 with the Houston Dynamo in their season opener and will host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park (stream live at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+).