At the referee’s final whistle, despite the 2-1 in Carrara, the credits of a film already seen rolled. This year too, Perugia was not the protagonist of an exciting journey and ended the season amidst bitterness, regrets and disappointments for what could have been but, once again, was not. Grifo exited the playoffs and said goodbye to the dream of immediately climbing back to Serie B, after last year’s relegation. And now “the time for reflection begins, then will come the time for decisions”. The words are from sporting director Jacopo Giugliarelli, who commented on the useless victory (and which only gained at the end) against Carrarese. “I believe that the match is the photo of our season, everything we could have done and instead didn’t do – he said -. There is great disappointment. I have never flaunted goals, because from day one I believed it was a task difficult due to the environmental situation and the two relegations in recent years. We are disappointed, first of all by ourselves, then by the players who in the vast majority gave less than they could have given.”
Yet – even after the knockout at “Curi” in the first leg match – Giugliarelli believed in it. “We knew that the playoffs always give you the opportunity to overturn the result – confided the young sporting director -. After Lisi’s advantage the match was headed in the right direction to do something extraordinary. Unfortunately then when you give something to your opponent you can’t hope to get to the bottom of it. I’m critical and disappointed because we put ourselves in trouble.”
Even the coach Alessandro Formisano hoped for the feat. Especially after the lead. “The biggest regret is that we made a mistake in the most important moment of the match – he commented to Umbria TV – The boys remained in the match, even scoring the first goal. But we gave away the 1-1. It’s a shame, because after the lead the inertia was in our favor and there was the possibility of doubling the lead. It’s sad because it’s a bitter victory, born from a good performance.” The Grifo coach – who has been renewed until 2027 – spoke about his career at the helm of Perugia: “They have been five important months, with ups and downs. During the season we have not been able to find continuity in the formations, which is essential for a team that wants to keep its standards high – continued Formisano –. And then the mentality: the group that in crucial moments was unable to recognize the importance of certain objectives.” And again he explained that “criticisms can only be responded to in the field and with daily work”. “If I have received criticism it is because my work was not appreciated. I will have to do much more to make it clear that there is commitment, ideas and the desire to build something important”.
