The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he to later acknowledge that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were about to receive for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to determine if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
A single player remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay a while longer. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived originally during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
