The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or had there never been a thread maintaining its structure from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he admitted that the board had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that he could resign were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized during matches as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Return
A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He completed last season on loan at Parma and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined originally during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was persistently working to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
