Sports News of Friday, 9 August 2019

Source: dailypost.ng

Ibrahimovic slams MLS playoff system -

La Galaxy captain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has criticized the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs.

Unlike Europe, where Ibrahimovic has played for the likes of Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Inter, AC Milan and Juventus, MLS uses a playoff system to crown a champion.

The top seven teams from the Western and Eastern Conferences, which consist of 12 teams in each division, progress to the postseason.

However, a new format will be introduced this year, with the top seed in each conference earning a bye to the second round, while the other six teams in each conference battle for their spots in the conference semifinals.

Also, the playoffs will be completed earlier this season, as the MLS campaign will finish in November, rather than in early December like years past.

“I think the system is s***.

“How can you learn mentality if you only have to reach the playoffs?”

“You just need to win the play-offs, and that’s it. The results in each game are important, but here, if you come in seventh place, you make the playoffs and win, you are champion.

“For me, the mentality is every day, training the way you train is the way you play a game, and with the MLS system, how do you create that mentality to be in your toes 24 hours?It’s very difficult,” Ibrahimovic told reporters in Los Angeles