The mood at their home stadium was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had conceded ten goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or did there exist a binding element holding it together to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, but then he publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
Matteo's Unexpected Comeback
One individual remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He signed in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was still trying to identify the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
