The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign unraveling, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he admitted that the board had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for fiscal problems. Reports that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to tell if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Surprising Comeback
One individual kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this season. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to extend his stay temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Discovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn