The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed 10 goals while netting just two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist a thread holding it together to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he admitted that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unexpected Presence
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He was on last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to extend his stay temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to identify the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
