The feeling at their home stadium was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever any cohesion maintaining its structure in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if they are improving or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Presence
A single player remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to remain there for another season. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the exact type of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
