The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist a binding element maintaining its structure from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unexpected Comeback
One individual remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio during this campaign. He spent the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. They were unable to thin their squad without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived originally under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to work out the exact type of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
