The mood at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever any cohesion keeping it intact from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining first five games, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, observers have struggled to determine if they're getting better or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were advocating for him to remain there a while longer. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. They were unable to weaken their team with no new signings.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Finding His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as an attacking winger on arrival, 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, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
