The atmosphere at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread holding it together to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, only for him admitted that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were not true, but he acknowledged 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 falling short in their other initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
At least one man continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He was on the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were attempting to remain there for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Billed as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
