The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, only for him publicly stated that the board had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy on the pitch as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the rest of their initial five matches, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to determine if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
A single player continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were advocating for him to extend his stay a while longer. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was persistently working to identify the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
