The mood at Lazio's home ground was far from happy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had conceded a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Had their campaign unraveling, or was there ever a thread holding it together to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the management had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
The Youngster's Surprising Comeback
A single player remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his owning club were pushing for him to stay there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
