The mood at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
The Youngster's Unexpected Return
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the exact type of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
