The Swede’s LA Galaxy career is still in its infancy but his red card this week came as his new team continues to struggle

It was a moment completely and utterly befitting of the theatre that follows Zlatan Ibrahimovic wherever he struts. Video of the Swede’s first goal for the LA Galaxy, a 35-year drive over the goalkeeper, was replayed around the world. It clocked up over 3m views on Twitter and 3.6m views on Facebook. It made ESPN’s SportsCenter and sparked discussion among soccer fans everywhere. On and off the field vindication of Ibrahimovic’s move to California couldn’t have come any quicker.

This week, another clip of Ibrahimovic went viral. It too was viewed by fans across the planet, but this time it showed him slapping Michael Petrasso of the Montreal Impact for treading on his toe. Despite falling to the ground himself in an attempt to win the referee’s sympathy, the Swede was flashed a straight red card following a video review. It was a snapshot of how things have changed for Ibrahimovic in the two months since his debut. Frustration is bubbling to the surface.

Major League Soccer (@MLS) After Video Review, Zlatan Ibrahimovic receives a red card for violent conduct. #MTLvLA https://t.co/qF8UcCZYuy

Ibrahimovic has played seven games since his dramatic double in the first ever Los Angeles derby, scoring just once. The Galaxy have won just twice in that time, with one of those victories clinched after Ibrahimovic saw red on Monday. Far from solving Galaxy’s problems, the Swede has accentuated them

After missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade last season, Sigi Schmid rebuilt his squad over the winter. It became clear rather quickly, though, that the rebuild had taken place with no great vision in mind, no real blueprint to follow. Nobody at the Galaxy publicly admitted as much, but they surely believed the addition of Ibrahimovic would paper over at least some of the cracks. Now, the cracks have grown even deeper.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's theatre of the absurd comes to MLS on thrilling debut Read more

Once MLS’s marquee franchise, with more MLS Cups in the trophy cabinet than any other club, the LA Galaxy have been left behind in recent years. Teams such as Atlanta United and Sporting KC have an identity, a style of play. They stand for something. The term ‘philosophy’ is overused in soccer, but at each of the aforementioned clubs there is an overarching model being followed. There’s no indication that this is the case at StubHub Center. From front to back, top to bottom, the LA Galaxy are a club without direction.

It hasn’t helped that rivals LAFC, with their gleaming new downtown stadium, have rarely put a foot wrong. In their expansion season, Bob Bradley has put together a team that has, to date, exceeded all expectations, with LAFC currently sitting second top of the Western Conference, with just three defeats in their opening 11 fixtures. Their star man, Carlos Vela, already has seven goals for the season. Ibrahimovic has been left in the Mexican’s wake.

Of course, it’s still far too early to write off Ibrahimovic as a flop. He still has time to prove himself as a Robbie Keane rather than a Steven Gerrard at the Galaxy. But nothing he has offered up so far – outside of that amazing debut – has quelled the doubts that were raised around the time of his signing. Many pointed out that Ibrahimovic’s injury record would hinder him and so it has proved. Some questioned whether he would fit into this Galaxy side. So far, the Swede appears something of a misfit, with some fans excited to see Ola Kamara given a run in the team as a lone striker in Ibrahimovic’s absence through suspension (he’ll miss the Cali Clasico against San Jose on Friday night).

After his derby induction, many expected Ibrahimovic to keep the one-man show going. Those expectations have since proved to be unrealistic, underplaying the fundamental fractures that exist throughout the LA Galaxy team. In a way, the one-man show is still rolling along, given that Ibrahimovic’s slap became a talking point. Even when he is drawing a blank in front of goal, the Swede brings exposure to the American game. But did LA Galaxy sign the striker to be a footballer or a marketing tool? Because as things stand, Ibrahimovic is only fulfilling one of those briefs.

There were plenty of knee-jerk reactions after Ibrahimovic’s debut. Plenty used it as a stick to beat MLS with, arguing the point that a striker well into his twilight years shouldn’t be able to decide a game all on his own. Now, that performance looks like the exception rather than the rule.

Ibrahimovic has built his entire career on the back of being a serial winner. At Manchester United, he was able to twist success in the League Cup and the Europa League into a great, personal triumph in line with some of his other crowning achievements. “I conquered England in three months,” he boasted, with more than a hint of hyperbole.

So how will Ibrahimovic spin this if things continue to worsen at the LA Galaxy? This is a man who has previously compared himself to Jesus Christ. At his unveiling as an MLS player in March, he claimed he felt like Benjamin Button. “I was born old and I will die young,” he said with a wry smile. But how will he keep up the act if this tough start to life in MLS lasts any longer? There’s only so many times you can slap an opponent to stay on SportsCenter.