The New York Red Bulls have a tall task to focus on while in Los Angeles. A tall, Swedish task.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Galaxy's newest star will present the Red Bulls with a significant challenge on Saturday night at the StubHub Center.
"The thing that Ibrahimovic does is he can off-balance you in a lot of ways," Head Coach Jesse Marsch said. "He obviously is good aerially in the box, but he is even better at putting little combination plays together, seeing the final plays, striking balls, obviously his cleverness around the goal. They are going to know him pretty well, but the question is how do you stop him on the day and it will be up to some individual moments and our ability to track him."
New York will counter the 6' 5" Swede with Aaron Long (6-foot-2) and Tim Parker (6-foot-2).
"He is always a threat and keeping tracking of him especially in the box will be important," Marsch said. "We will have to go there and be better, we will have to go there and be on top of our details and our tactics better and make sure that we are ready for a big challenge."
The Red Bulls were taking notes when Atlanta United FC held the Galaxy scoreless in Carson, California, on April 21.
"We are evaluating exactly what we want our game plan to be and formation and approach," Marsch said. "We will make sure to be organized, we will make sure we keep track of him and still find ways to be explosive in the attack to get some goals ourselves."
