The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had allowed 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or did there exist any cohesion maintaining its structure from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, but then he admitted that the board had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Reports that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized 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 tell if they are improving or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this year. He was on the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."
Finding His True Position
It's possible the coach was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
