The mood at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist a binding element holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were not true, but he stated 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 being defeated in the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if they are improving or imploding.
The Youngster's Unexpected Return
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were attempting to remain there a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to work out the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
