The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other first five games, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
A single player continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this year. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined initially during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of the player's talent. Billed as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
