The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or was there ever any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Return
A single player continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He completed last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined originally when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
