The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or had there never been a thread keeping it intact to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining initial five matches, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it has been hard to ascertain if progress is being made or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Unexpected Comeback
A single player continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He spent the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of his skill set. Originally described as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
