The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or had there never been any cohesion maintaining its structure in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Speculation that he might quit were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to determine if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Surprising Comeback
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to extend his stay a while longer. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived initially under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was persistently working to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
