The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or had there never been a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, but then he publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined originally when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Discovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
