The mood at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or did there exist a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, but then he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or imploding.
Cancellieri's Surprising Presence
A single player remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there temporarily. The signing restriction forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He signed initially during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
