CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy's consistently poor defending this season was worse than normal in last weekend's 5-0 drubbing in Seattle, so Zlatan Ibrahimovic has an idea: Focus on the other end.
“If you lose, 5-0, obviously the defending is not good,” Ibrahimovic said during his weekly media session following Wednesday's training session at StubHub Center. “So let's stop thinking about defense. Let's talk about attack. Let's attack and win the game like that.”
He's only half-serious of course — defense has been LA's primary Achilles all season — but with the final regular-season showdown with El Trafico rival LAFC looming Friday night at StubHub Center (10:30 pm ET | ESPN - full TV & streaming info) during Heineken Rivalry Week, his words ring particularly true.
The Galaxy started slowly in both LAFC meetings, falling behind early en route to a three-goal deficit in the Swedish superstar's March 31 debut before he played hero in a stunning 4-3 triumph. Nearly four months later, they conceded two early goals before rallying in the final minutes for a 2-2 draw July 26 at Banc of California Stadium.
A draw Friday will give the Galaxy (10-9-7) the upper hand in the first season series, but that's not enough, given LA's precarious position in the playoff race. They're fifth in the West, ahead of Portland on goals scored, with Seattle just two points behind and Vancouver another point back.
The Timbers have three games in hand on the Galaxy, the Sounders have two, and Whitecaps one. LA have claimed just two points in their last four games.
“I think every game is important, because the way the situation is with the points, how many games you've played, how many games is left,” Ibrahimovic said. “We need to get the points we need to make the playoffs. If we can get the points we need in this game, we will get it. If we need it to fix for the playoffs, it is very important. But I feel the remaining games, all of them, is very important.”
Shoring things up defensively is vital, and watching it all go south in Seattle wasn't much fun for Ibrahimovic, who didn't make the trip.
“You get a goal [against] early, and then they continue to score the goals, and then they were [shortly after] halftime 3-0 already,” he said. “It was a difficult game. And [we] play against a team that's had a good run now, and, yeah, you lose the points. Obviously, it's not good, and the way we lost also, but Friday we have opportunity to not reset things, but to make a good result and go for it.”
The Galaxy also were missing injured Designated Player signings Romain Alessandrini (knee) and Giovani (calf) and Jonathan dos Santos (groin), as well as center back Michael Ciani (hamstring). Head coach Sigi Schmid said only Jonathan dos Santos was a possibility for Friday.
Ibrahimovic says the LAFC meeting is “a big game” because of the proximity of the clubs — StubHub Center is about a dozen miles south of Banc of California Stadium — but that the rivalry itself is “still fresh, because it's the third game.”
“Everything is new,” he said. “Things have to settle. ... They have how many games? This is their first season. But by time, by the years that will go, it will be more heating in the game, let's say. The building up the game, the surroundings, the atmosphere. It will come.”
