The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a thread keeping it intact from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other first five games, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if they are improving or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Surprising Presence
A single player continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to remain there a while longer. The registration embargo forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad with no new signings.
He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate 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. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
