Football
ESPN staff 6y

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ola Kamara can play together - Galaxy's Sigi Schmid

LA Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid believes his new striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will work well in tandem with Ola Kamara.

By MLS standards, the Galaxy spent big to get Kamara in January, sending $400,000 in allocation money and U.S. international Gyasi Zardes to Columbus.

The 28-year old scored LA's first goal of the season this month and on Friday recorded a hat trick against Australia while on international duty with Norway.

Schmid now has to figure out how to integrate the world-famous Ibrahimovic into the squad, but the coach said he thought both Scandinavian forwards would be able to play together.

"We're going to have to try and figure that out," Schmid told reporters after Saturday's draw with the Whitecaps. "I didn't want to think about that a whole lot [before Vancouver].

"I wanted to make sure we had this game plan right. I'll probably throw some lineups or different formations on the board and see what I think works and what makes sense.

"But Ola's an important player to our team, because of his ability to score goals and because of his ability to stretch the defense. At times Zlatan's played very well with that kind of a player. I'm sure we can establish a connection and a combination there."

Schmid also talked up Ibrahimovic's passing ability on the Galaxy's website on Monday, saying: "When you step on the field with Ibra, you know that if you make your run, he'll find you."

Ibrahimovic is expected to arrive in the U.S. this week, and it remains to be seen whether he will make his debut against LAFC on Saturday, but Schmid was optimistic.

"Exactly when he's coming, we're not 100 percent sure, and we've got to see where he's at fitness-wise," the coach said. "But things are looking up for next week."

Ibrahimovic told the Galaxy's website on Monday that he considered LA to be "the best team in the U.S." and that he's ready to go.

"I feel good. I'm training very hard. I haven't played games for a while, but that is what I miss now. I need to play games to go in that rhythm," he said. "The more I play, the better it will be. I'm just excited and looking forward for the games."

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