ISL: Atletico de Kolkata- 5 factors behind the team lifting the trophy

Atletico De Kolkata celebrate with trophy after their victory A 2 month long odyssey is over. India’s tryst with football has been lent a new perspective with the Hero Indian Super League. Teams were apprehensive, owners grew worried, but at last it is curtain calls.Atletico de Kolkata are the 1st champions of the ISL. It is a huge moment for the team and everybody associated with it. The Kolkata outfit had showed some absolute fireworks in the opening game. It did not quite match up in the final game. Nevertheless, an injury time header by a hitherto unknown Mohammad Rafique sealed the deal.What led to ATK be the 1st champions of the tournament. Here are 5 top factors to validate the triumph:

#1 Meteoric rise of Edel Bte

In the inaugural game, Kolkata custodian Subhasish Roy Chowdhury raised eyebrows with a stellar performance. With time, he faded and the spotlight shifted. It was the turn of Armenian Apoula Edel Bte. His predatorily instincts made the difference for ATK.

With every game, his performance went up a few scales. Finally, Bte replaced Roy from the number one position and the latter was a sad onlooker. There were moments when it was all but over until Edel dived and saved. The team huffed and puffed but the Armenian goalkeeper was steady. His nonchalant eyes concealed the goal saving instincts.

Without him, it would have been impossible for this team to reach the pinnacle of success. His pivotal role makes him the man of the tournament for ATK.

#2 An impermeable defence to save blushes

Brave defending was seen throughout the tournament.

After the undefeated juggernaut was brought to a halt by Pune, it was downhill for Atletico. The players had lost the sheen and matches began endingin drab draws. However, those games were crucial, as they earned the much valuable points. These one-point victories eventually guided the team through to the semis.

During these ties, all the ATK fans would be disappointed to see the ball being casually rolled around the field. There was hardly much intent from the players. When Fikru was suspended, a formidable goal scoring option was gone. Nobody was quite keen to fill up the void.

In hindsight, such dour tactics strengthened the defence immensely. The results were evident in the final stages of the tournament. The defence would be doing its work with aplomb. In the final, it was a conventional 4-man defence. It broke down the opposition quite effectively. Set pieces also werehandled with aplomb by the defense.

#3 Bench strength

Players like Mohammad Rafi shifted gears whenever required.

When Fikru got suspended and Garcia was injured, the bench strength was tested. At this critical juncture, the subs chipped in perfectly. Upfront, Mohammad Rafi would lead the attack while the likes of Baljit Sahni, Lester Fernandez and Arnal Llibert would fit in perfectly. In the final game it was without Garcia and Fikru that the team snatched the victory.

The dull draws would test the bench strength in bits and pieces. The team did not crumble under such pressure. The results were not as wishful but at the end everything fell into place. Players like Rakesh Masih drew flak for his dismal performances. But the rest of the Indian crop proved a point. Be it Rafi, Rafique (who scored the winning goal in the final) or Lester, they all came in handy.

It was this bench strength that saw ATK emerging victorious. They might not have played in the most beautiful manner, but got their supporters home the 1st ISL trophy.

#4 Habas\'s formations clicked more often than not

During the slump in the table, Atletico seemed to have run out of gas. After being on the top for eight rounds, they slipped badly. The side managed to qualify for the semis but it was a rather different ATK which qualified. There were banned players, injured squad members, cards- things were in rut.

To turn around mentally was the biggest hurdle. So much so that, qualification for semi finals seemed to be in dire straits.

The 1-1 draw with FC Goa changed the storyline. Dada’s boys qualified and were resilient throughout. The backbone was rock solid. The players performed at their optimum. Ultimately the results spoke a different tale.

Penalties saw the team through to the finals. It was a stoppage time goal and the final fate was decided.

#5 The indomitable Spanish armada

Last but not the least it was Atletico de Kolkata which had Spanish origin players. With a tie-up from Atletico Madrid, such a team combination was imminent. This factor helped in the overall team play.

Garcia, Jofre Mateu, Borja- these three in the midfield stood out with their contribution. The team spirit was infectious. The Spanish connection had that effect on the entire side that it kind of rubbed on them. Ultimately, it was this Spanish armada that sunk their opponents.

It is indeed a proud moment for all the ATK fans and players alike. ‘Fatafati’ football was played and the deserved winners have made the dream come true.

Edited by Staff Editor