The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had conceded ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent 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 Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they are improving or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Comeback
One individual remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were pushing for him to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived initially under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
