The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been a binding element keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Presence
One individual kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He spent the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his owning club were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of his skill set. Labeled as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
