WASHINGTON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Sigi Schmid, coach of Major League Soccer(MLS) club LA Galaxy, said on Thursday that recently recruited striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be likely to make debut at this weekend's game between the Galaxy and Los Angeles FC to be slated for Saturday.
The team has confirmed that the Swede, signed last week, will arrive in the city on Thursday and will train with his new team for the first time on Friday. After that, the striker will be unveiled to local media. According to Schmid, He will be available for selection on Saturday when the Galaxy host LAFC in the teams' first-ever meeting.
"You're talking about Zlatan Ibrahimovic," Schmid said on the team's official website. "You're not talking about a normal, mortal human. I'm sure he'll tell you the same. He's a competitor. He loves to compete and he loves challenges. If you ask me is he 90 minutes fit for Saturday, no. But will he play a role in the game? Quite possibly."
The 36-year-old Swedish superstar, a long-time Galaxy target, signed last week with the LA-based giant after securing his release from English team Manchester United, but he's seen no game action since re-injuring his right knee in late December.
However, Schmid was confident that the forward will fit well in the team. "we're starting to think about how it could fit together. He's a great player. Anytime you put a great player in the lineup, it helps you."
"He's played in different systems, he's played as a solo striker, he's play in combination with another, he's played in a three-man front. He's played in a 4-2-3-1 system. He's played in every system possible, and he knows how to play football," the coach added.
