The feeling at Lazio's home ground was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Speculation that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the rest of their opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to tell if they are improving or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return
A single player remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, Lazio were pushing for him to stay there temporarily. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the specific characteristics of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
