No Zlatan, no problems it seems after one of his former LA Galaxy team-mates claimed life is better without the striker.
Towering Swede Ibrahimovic is one of the greatest players to grace MLS but it seems not everybody enjoyed his presence in the States. With a swagger bordering on arrogance and feeling he has a divine right to be the best whenever he takes the field, his attitude can sometimes spill over negatively. And American midfielder Sebastian Lletget insists the feel around the club is better now he's gone.
“There’s definitely a better feel around the place for sure,” Sebastian Lletget told the BSI: The Podcast this week. “As far as chemistry, that’s only going to build with time.”
The American midfielder was humiliated by Ibrahimovic during the LA ‘El Trafico’ derby when the forward pushed him out of the defensive wall.
Ibrahimovic, now 38 and back in Europe with Milan, was booked for giving away a free-kick and as the team were lining up to ensure they blocked it, Zlatan shoved Lletget out of the way, signalling to pick up a man to his right. The striker just gave a steely look ahead and did not communicate with his team-mate. Lletget took it but it was not a good situation to be in.
“That to me is complete insanity to do that to one of your teammates - complete insanity,” he explained. "It’s one of those moments I think he showed his true colours.”
Lletget, who was born in California, spent five years with West Ham without making an appearance and has 14 caps for his country, did not hold back on how he felt towards Ibra.
“You couldn’t be free,” he said. “It was super frustrating. You feel like you want to literally take your boots off and just walk off the field.”
Zlatan had several run-ins during his time in MLS, coming to blows with NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson, elbowing LAFC’s Mohamed El-Munir and even irking Nedum Onuoha so much with alleged threats to ‘hurt’ him during a match that the former Man City and Sunderland defender rejected the offer an apology.
“It’s tough to play against him and tougher to play with him,” Lletget insisted.
So many of us love Zlatan but not everyone is a fan, and with good reason, it seems.
