The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist any cohesion maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, only for him admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Finding His True Position
It's possible the coach was persistently working to determine the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
