The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded ten goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the club had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Speculation that his departure was imminent were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Unexpected Return
At least one man continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He was on last season at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his owning club were pushing for him to extend his stay a while longer. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Discovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
