LOS ANGELES – Turf will not deter Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2019.
The LA Galaxy forward told reporters on Wednesday that he’s not only ready to play this Friday when the team travels to play Vancouver Whitecaps FC, but he’ll also be looking to play in every turf match this season.
“I feel good and I’m ready. I’m just going to go in and play the game,” he told reporters. “I can’t focus different or change anything because even if it’s on turf, I have to keep doing what I’m doing.
“If I feel good, I’ll play.”
Playing on a synthetic surface like the one at BC Place is nothing new for Ibrahimović, who played on turf fields during his stints in France, Italy, and Sweden. Ibrahimović played on turf just twice last season in a brief cameo at Providence Park in Portland and later a full 90 showing in Minnesota.
The Swedish star admitted that much of his reticence to playing on turf a year ago stemmed from his knee surgery suffered during his first stint with Manchester United.
“It wasn’t because I didn’t want to, it was because of the injury,” he explained. “It’s been a long time since the injury, and I feel confident.”
