The mood at their home stadium was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or did there exist any cohesion maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, before he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or imploding.
Cancellieri's Surprising Return
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the last one with Parma on loan and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed initially under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to work out the nature of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
