The mood at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had conceded ten goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, but then he admitted that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Reports that his departure was imminent were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He signed initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
