The feeling at their home stadium was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had let in ten goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or was there ever any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he admitted that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Reports that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to be at Lazio this season. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were pushing for him to extend his stay a while longer. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
