The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist any cohesion holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club became as messy on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their initial five matches, including the Rome derby. At any given moment, it has been hard to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio this season. He spent last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, Lazio were pushing for him to extend his stay a while longer. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad without replacements.
Cancellieri arrived initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, almost all of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the exact type of his skill set. Billed as an attacking winger on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
