The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, before he to later acknowledge that the board had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Return
A single player continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this season. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his owning club were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
