LOS ANGELES – Zlatan Ibrahimović will be available for selection for the LA Galaxy’s clash with Minnesota United, the striker confirmed on Thursday.
Los Angeles sit one point out of a postseason berth heading into their penultimate game of the regular season this Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium. More than 50,000 fans are expected for Sunday's match, but it's the stadium's unforgiving turf surface that could cause an issue for Ibrahimović.
The Swedish star has led the way for the Galaxy this year with 21 goals and nine assists but has played just one match on turf this season, a brief cameo against Portland Timbers in early June.
Although the turf surface will be a challenge, Ibrahimović understands that the match is vital for the Galaxy's playoff aspirations.
“We are in the [playoff] picture, and more than 50,000 is coming, and I owe them to come because obviously, they don’t have this crowd every home game," Ibrahimović said. "I’m sure they’re not coming for Minnesota, so I’ll come, and I’ll make them enjoy.”
Galaxy interim head coach Dominic Kinnear echoed the Swede's comments stating that he'll be ready for Sunday.
“Obviously, as a coach, you don’t want to put a player in a situation where he’s not going to be successful, or he could injure himself," he said. "We’ve already had a conversation beforehand, but he knows the importance of the game, and he wants to play and wants to play well.”
