Warning: Story/video contains coarse language
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the fuel and fumes of El Trafico.
Naturally, the cocksure LA Galaxy striker didn't just applaud fans after scoring a hat-trick in Friday's 3-2 defeat of rivals Los Angeles FC. Instead, in the aftermath of a thrilling Californian clash, the veteran Swede appeared to call an LAFC coach a "little b----" when the member of Bob Bradley's backroom staff seemed to take exception to Ibrahimovic's combative play.
LAFC staff not happy with Zlatan elbow after epic hat trick. #ElTraffico #LAGalaxy #LAFC
— Jason Kaufman (@JKaufman05) July 20, 2019
“Go Home. You little b*tch. Go home” 🤭🥶🤣 pic.twitter.com/uGOjL5Lnfy
Ibrahimovic, 37, also instructed the coach to "go home."
The decorated marksman stoked the flames prior to the match, declaring himself "far" better than LAFC forward and Major League Soccer top scorer Carlos Vela after reporters tried to compare the pair. Vela went on to score twice in the heated derby, but Ibrahimovic's treble - which began with a sublime individual effort from outside the box - stole all the headlines.
🎩 🎩 🎩@Ibra_official's second MLS career hat trick! pic.twitter.com/FDegsRqlJW
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 20, 2019
"I have a lot of respect for Vela, he's a good player, but you did one mistake, you compared him with me, that was your biggest mistake," Ibrahimovic said in a post-match press conference, according to ESPN.
"I have my confidence and I believe in myself," he continued. "People call it arrogant, I call it confidence. Ignorant people call it arrogant, intelligent people call it confidence.
"I have a bulletproof mind. When I go out there, I know what I'm able to prove - and I do it good."
Ibrahimovic has scored 16 times in the 2019 MLS season - five fewer than Vela - but his 58 percent goal contribution for the Galaxy eclipses the 38 percent offering from LAFC's Mexican frontman.
