The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element holding it together from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club became as messy on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He spent last season at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He signed originally when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
