The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while scoring only 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.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist any cohesion maintaining its structure from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the management had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined originally when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to determine the exact type of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
