The mood at Lazio's home ground was far from happy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while scoring only 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.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or had there never been any cohesion maintaining its structure to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to tell if they are improving or collapsing.
Matteo's Unexpected Presence
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to stay there for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the exact type of the player's talent. Originally described as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
