Galaxy must win, which means Zlatan Ibrahimovic must play

The Galaxy approached each of their last five games as if they were must-win matches. Yet, though they failed to win three of those, they didn’t fall out of the MLS playoff race.

There will be no such wiggle room Sunday, when the Galaxy face Minnesota United before an expected crowd of more than 50,000 on the rugged artificial turf of TCF Bank Stadium. Trailing Real Salt Lake (14-12-7) by four points in the race for the final Western Conference playoff berth with two games left, the Galaxy (12-11-9) need at least a draw, coupled with an RSL loss Sunday, if they hope to catch Salt Lake in the standings.

But even that won’t mean much since the first tiebreaker is total wins. And the Galaxy need…