It was a very good season for Perugia, 4th at the end of the regular one, they went directly to the playoffs' semifinals where they were knocked out by Benevento. A great improvement comparing to last year when, despite a very experienced coach and many top level players, they floated all the time in the middle of the table, never able to make the quantum leap necessary to fight for a spot in the playoffs and ending in 10th position. Yet at the beginning there were many doubts both on the team and on the new coach. The roster seemed noticeably weakened, just think of the departures of Ardemagni and Spinazzola who were replaced by players coming from lower divisions like Buonaiuto and Di Chiara, and Cristian Bucchi was at his first experience as a coach in Serie B. Yet this was the strength of the gryphons, players and coach with a strong desire to emerge. Actually the beginning had given credit to the detractors of the team and especially of Bucchi, Perugia immediately showed a clear identity and displayed a very pleasant football, but results were not coming and, after a couple of months, the biancorossi were in the middle of the table looking set to follow the footsteps of the past season or even worse. Unlike what one would have expected the coach did not change, insisted with his attacking 4-3-3 system of play and the results slowly began to prove him right. The Umbrians climbed-up the table till reaching the playoff zone just before the winter break...from that moment they remained firmly in the top eight teams. The play of the Umbrians was made of many passes among their skilled midfielders and sudden openings on the wings, while their main lack was a centre-forward able to turn into goals the many crosses from the wings, especially after Rolando Bianchi's departure in January, player who anyway didn't give the expected contribution in the first months. As for the play on the wings great credit must be given to left full-back Gianluca Di Chiara who, at his first season at this level, showed great personality. Moreover external attackers were decisive, Stefano Guberti, Francesco Nicastro and Mattia Mustacchio, the latter arrived in January, scored together about 20 goals also serving many assists to the main forward Samuel Di Carmine who scored 13 times. Unfortunately, captain Lorenzo Del Prete failed to give the usual contribution on the right wing because of the many muscle injuries. Excellent season also the one of midfielder on loan from Napoli Jacopo Dezi, who showed all his skills and also scored 7 goals. Also important was goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli's arrival in the winter transfer market, always self-confident between the sticks and in the coming outs.
