The feeling at their home stadium was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever any cohesion holding it together to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, only for him admitted that the board had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Reports that he might quit were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club became as messy during matches as they were off it, 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's been difficult to determine if they are improving or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Return
One individual kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this season. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined initially when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of the player's talent. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
