The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or had there never been any cohesion maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he admitted that the management had not mentioned the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if they are improving or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Comeback
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to remain there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
