The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or was there ever any cohesion maintaining its structure from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him admitted that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
Matteo's Unexpected Comeback
One individual kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He spent last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad without replacements.
He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors 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, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Finding His True Position
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
