The mood at their home stadium was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element holding it together to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he admitted that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club became as messy in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to tell if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Presence
One individual remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were attempting to stay there for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived originally when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
