The mood at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the management had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Speculation that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He was on the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
