Rolando Maran arrived at Cagliari and lived up to the reputation he forged for years when managing Chievo - the ability to achieve safety without any real drama.
The Islanders made improvements in almost every area - finished one place higher, acquired more points, scored more goals and conceded fewer. In almost all of those instances, they were small improvements but progression nonetheless and that is crucial for a club like Cagliari who struggled badly to avoid relegation last year. Maran may not be the most glamorous coach but he manages to get the job done and most Rossoblu fans would probably prefer a few seasons of routine survival - rather than a spectacular relegation.
Traditionally, Cagliari have been much stronger at home and they were certainly a tough proposition for any visiting team this season. Their aggressive direct style of play centres using the full-backs for width and getting crosses into the box to star striker Leonardo Pavoletti. The former Napoli man had his most productive season to date - scoring 16 times in 32 appearances and most of them with his head. He was up there with the best aerial threats in Europe this season.
Pavoletti was supported by an able cast including the likes of Nicolo Barella - who is now on the radar of several big clubs - and Lucas Castro who was a favourite of Maran's at Chievo.
After a third consecutive season in the top flight, Cagliari will again look to consolidate and improve slightly more next year.
