The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, but then he admitted that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He completed the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were attempting to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed initially during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
