LA Galaxy: Guillermo Barros Schelotto has a Zlatan problem

LA Galaxy have hired Guillermo Barros Schelotto as their new head coach. Schelotto has a Zlatan Ibrahimovic problem to solve: an over-reliance on the brilliant Swede.

The Los Angeles Galaxy very nearly backed their way into the playoffs. In the end, they probably deserved to sneak in, based on the quality of their play in the latter stages of the season, bar a couple of loose performances and results here and there.

But, ultimately, one of the most storied franchises in Major League Soccer, for the second-straight season, would be watching the postseason from the comforts of their own living rooms. It was not a successful campaign in LA.

Had they squeezed into the playoffs, the LA Galaxy would have had one man and one man only to thank — and he would have been more than happy to be adorned with the praise. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the only reason that the Galaxy were even close to a playoff berth.

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Last season, the Galaxy scored an impressive 66 goals. Only two clubs in the whole of MLS scored more, LAFC and Atlanta United, two teams renowned for their high-powered offences. The Galaxy, it seems, is often overlooked when it comes to naming high-scoring attacks throughout the league.

Their attacking potency is almost single-handedly down to Ibrahimovic. Zlatan scored 22 of the Galaxy’s 66 goals, exactly 33%. Only Josef Martinez, Gyasi Zardes and Ignacio Piatti. scored a higher proportion of their team’s goals.

Perhaps more impressive is the ten assists that Zlatan also provided. Of out-and-out centre-forwards, only Maxi Urruti laid on more, and Urruti totalled just one more than Ibrahimovic. In total, Zlatan had a direct hand in 32 of the 66 goals that LA scored, just under half. And that does not account for all of those that he is involved in the build-up or attracting defensive attention and creating space with his movement.

There might not be a player who is more important to his team than Ibrahimovic is to LA Galaxy. And yet, at precisely the same time, he might also be the most detrimental. Zlatan is so instrumental to the Galaxy’s play that other players in the team are consistently looking to him, almost waiting for him to do something special, relying on his other-worldly talent to dig them out of any situation they find themselves in.

But that is not the point of a star player. Yes, those moments are essential to any championship-winning team. Just ask Atlanta United and Josef Martinez. But, really, players like Zlatan and Wayne Rooney should not just win games on their own but also aid those around them to elevate their games. Truly great players make average players great also.

That is what new head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto must unlock at LA Galaxy. The former Boca Juniors manager is highly thought of after some good work in Argentina, both with Boca and Lanus before that. He must find a way to structure this team to not solely rely on Zlatan. The striker will obviously be a key part of his gameplan. Any manager would be foolish to not incorporate such a terrific attacking weapon. But there cannot be the reliance that there was last season.

The Galaxy have the potential to again challenge for MLS Cups. They weren’t all that far off last season, however turbulent their campaign may have seemed. Schelotto has the makings of a tite-winning team. He just needs to solve a little Zlatan problem first.