'Fans wanted Zlatan. I gave them Zlatan'
Zlatan Ibrahimovic hailed his special start to life in Major League Soccer (MLS) after marking his LA Galaxy debut with a sensational match-winning brace.
Ibrahimovic came off the bench and scored twice in a 19-minute cameo, including a memorable long-range strike, as Galaxy overcame a three-goal deficit to beat rival Los Angeles FC 4-3 on Sunday (AEST).
Former Manchester United forward Ibrahimovic only arrived in California on Friday (AEDT) but the 36-year-old made an immediate impact at Stubhub Center, equalising with a 40-yard volley in the 77th minute.
Ibrahimovic was not done there, his 90th-minute header completing a stunning comeback and sparking wild celebrations.
"If you look back, every team I played for, I scored in my first official game. I wasn't going to let that stop today," Ibrahimovic said after the match.
"I was just waiting to come on because when you're losing 3-0, the adrenaline is pumping even more because you want to be able to do something for your team in a difficult situation.
"The fans were demanding something, and I gave them Zlatan.
"I always say it's difficult when you do something like that first goal. You cannot describe it. You need to go through it yourself and I've been through it many times. Wherever I've gone, the fans have gone crazy.
"I said before I came here in Manchester with the Galaxy people, that I would make the fans enjoy me.
"There are kids out there and you just want to give back to them. They are the future and you want to be a good example to them in a crazy way and that's by scoring crazy goals."
Ibrahimovic looked physically spent after the final whistle, despite having played just 20 minutes.
"I felt I'd played 40 games for my 20 minutes. It was everything — jet lag, didn't play for a long time," he added.
"I did the first sprint and I was starting to breathe immediately, so when the second one came, I thought I'll shoot and not run with the ball. That was the ball that went in [the goal].
"But there was a lot of adrenaline because I hadn't played for a long time."
Ibrahimovic admitted he was thrilled with the welcome he has received in the United States since making the move last week.
"It was amazing from the first step I took inside the stadium," he said.
"Once I was on the bench, I could feel the support, but not just for me, for the whole team. They wanted Zlatan and I gave them Zlatan.
"It's easier to play when you have fans pushing you, supporting you and giving you that little bit extra you need. When you have a team that welcomes you in the best way, it makes it easier for you.
"When it goes well, you see the happiness in your team-mates and you just want to keep going. But I was happy when the game finished because I don't know if I could have played more."
