The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had allowed a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or had there never been a thread holding it together to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to determine if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Unexpected Return
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his owning club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to determine the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
