The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or was there ever a thread maintaining its structure in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, but then he publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Comeback
One individual continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there a while longer. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad without replacements.
He joined originally when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
