The week in tactics: He is Zlatan

This week in tactics, Zlatan Ibrahimovic led Manchester United to an EFL Cup final win on Sunday his team didn’t even remotely deserve.

“Obviously you cannot have 11 Zlatans on a team (although I understand scientists are working on it with cloning technology). So in the meantime, it’s important that everyone knows his role: supporting the Zlatan and making him look good.”  

— Zlatan Ibrahimovic, I am Zlatan, Viking, September 2013

Today we look at the brilliant performance of Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a living legend of the game who single-handedly willed his team to the EFL Cup trophy.

It would be very easy to dismiss Ibrahimovic’s antics and soundbites as cheap bravado and posturing. It would be very convenient to dislike the man anywhere outside the vicinity of Old Trafford. Up until the 85th minute of the EFL Cup final, it would have been perfectly acceptable to describe Ibrahimovic as a great striker having a very good, prolific season at Manchester United in the twilight of his career. However, in the last five minutes of the game, Ibrahimovic’s performance gave real credence to the posturing and the bravado that have come to define him.

We’ll all remember Ibrahimovic’s dramatic EFL Cup-winning goal in the 87th minute, but we would be remiss if we overlooked his contribution just a minute prior, as he positioned himself in the perfect spot to deny Jack Stephens a go-ahead goal for Southampton. Being in the right place at the right time is somewhat of a cliche, but it’s an accurate descriptor for Ibrahimovic’s awareness on the field and tactical savvy during that defensive sequence. Arguably that headed clearance was just as important to the outcome of the game as the goal that followed. The man can do it all.

The next 60 seconds were an exhibition of pure brilliance in terms of tactical awareness and soccer IQ from the Swede. As the play progressed away from the United box and into the Southampton half, Ibrahimovic didn’t engage in an all-out sprint to outpace the defense. He’s 35 years old, after all.

Instead, the wily veteran picked his spot, working his way up the field, showing up for the ball at the edge of box. Textbook stuff. As the play developed and the ball was played wide, Ibra transitioned from contributor in the build-up play to deadly, quick-hitting cobra around the box. He checked in for the ball, then, once Anthony Martial played the ball wide to Ander Herrera, he started looking for open space in behind the central defenders.

As the ball’s about to be sent into the box, Ibra looks for the weakest link in the defensive chain. He knows the ball is about to be sent in; now’s the time to pounce. Young aspiring center forwards take note: oftentimes brains beats brawn. He didn’t sprint blindly to a spot, didn’t look for the ball at the first or second post following some tired recipe for forwards. He took what the defense gave him, and capitalized.

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Whatever your club allegiances may be, this man is a legend of the game, technically, tactically and personality-y. To paraphrase the man himself, “it’s important that everyone knows his role.”

He is Zlatan.