The feeling at their home stadium was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread holding it together from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, before he to later acknowledge that the club had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming 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, it has been hard to determine if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
One individual remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to remain there a while longer. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived originally when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
