The feeling at their home stadium was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or was there ever a binding element holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the board had not mentioned a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He spent last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to extend his stay a while longer. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived originally during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 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, who left at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Finding His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
