The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist a binding element keeping it intact to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, only for him admitted that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were facing for fiscal problems. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized during matches as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they're getting better or imploding.
The Youngster's Unexpected Comeback
One individual kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this year. He was on the last one on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to extend his stay a while longer. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the exact type of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
