The mood at their home stadium was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or had there never been a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were about to receive for accounting issues. Reports that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
One individual remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were attempting to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the exact type of his skill set. Labeled as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
