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3. Javi Lara
When Atletico de Kolkata signed Javi Lara in ISL Season 2, it was considered by many as a major coup. He was fresh off a La Liga season with Eibar where he made 31 appearances for the Basque club, and he even started the Indian season well, scoring against Kerala Blasters at Salt Lake.
Curiously though, Antonio Habas, the then manager of Atletico de Kolkata, didn’t play him that regularly. He preferred playing Arata Izumi instead of him on the left, and that gave the Spaniard few chances to shine.
New season, new coach, and things have changed drastically.
Lara has contributed more than any other Atletico player to the four points the team has picked up this season, scoring the winner against Kerala Blasters and the equaliser against Mumbai City FC.
But his importance to the Bengal outfit runs much deeper than that; with Borja Fernandez and Ofentse Nato being the first choice central midfielders, Kolkata lack a playmaker in the side. Iain Hume is often asked to drop in and get moves going, which is at odds with his natural game.
This is where Lara comes in. He might not have the pace to go beyond the full-back, but he definitely has the know-how to cut inside and make clever passes to the front men.
The biggest bonus of having the Spaniard in the team is his set piece delivery, especially with the height that Atletico have in their squad.
Based on his performances so far this season, it is no surprise that Lara is the highest rated midfielder in the league, with an average rating of 8.53.
