The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him admitted that the board had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were facing for fiscal problems. Speculation that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to determine if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Unexpected Comeback
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to identify the nature of his skill set. Billed as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
