The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, before he admitted that the club had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Rumours that he might quit were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their initial five matches, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they are improving or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Presence
A single player continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this year. He was on the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to stay there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to determine the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for much of that season as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
