The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, before he to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club became as messy on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to determine if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
One individual continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this season. He completed the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to extend his stay a while longer. The signing restriction necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
