The feeling at their home stadium was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or did there exist a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the management had not mentioned a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to ascertain if progress is being made or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Comeback
At least one man continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He was on the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his owning club were attempting to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo led to a change of plans. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was persistently working to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
