The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or did there exist a binding element holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, before he to later acknowledge that the club had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Rumours that he might quit were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. At any given moment, it's been difficult to tell if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Return
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He completed the last one on loan at Parma and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were attempting to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction forced a rethink. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He signed originally when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Finding His True Position
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
