The mood at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist any cohesion maintaining its structure in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the board had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Speculation that he might quit were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Return
A single player kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to stay there for another season. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to weaken their team with no new signings.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years 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, whose tenure ended after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the exact type of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
