The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or had there never been a thread holding it together from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he admitted that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their initial five matches, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to determine if progress is being made or imploding.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Return
At least one man remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He spent last season at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.
He joined in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to work out the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
