Kristiansund produced another fine season finishing sixth and have become a top half mainstay in the Eliteserien since their unlikely promotion in 2016. Christian Michelsen will be delighted with his side who have finished 7th, 5th and now 6th in their three top flight seasons and they continue to impress on a shoestring budget. They were particularly strong at home this year and with Amahl Pellegrino they found the winger they craved and surely the transfer bargain of the summer.
They had a tough start with just the one win in five games, and many thought their bubble had burst. But they dug in and the 3-2 win over eventual champions Molde was a turning point in many ways. There were dark hours like the horrendous 5-0 thrashing at the hands of a relegated Tromso side, but overall Kristiansund should be very happy with their efforts.
The question is how long can the club sustain top half finishes for? It all depends on investment in the squad of course, and Kristiansund will feel that they can keep attracting a certain pedigree of top flight player. They have some incredibly exciting forwards, but the key to their success is definitely a collective workrate that more often than not sees them competitive over 90 minutes. Michelsen will hope that they can keep this going for seasons to come, but the reality is that, with so many similar clubs, it won't take much for the tide to turn. That will be Kristiansund's challenge as long as they are in the top flight, and at the moment it's a challenge they are managing superbly well.
