The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were set to be hit with 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 behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other first five games, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to remain there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 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, who left at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His True Position
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to work out the exact type of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
