The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy 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 previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or was there ever a thread holding it together to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he to later acknowledge that the management had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this year. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there for another season. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
