The feeling at their home stadium was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign unraveling, or did there exist a thread holding it together in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, before he admitted that the board had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other first five games, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
The Youngster's Unexpected Presence
At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to feature for Lazio during this campaign. He was on the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to stay there temporarily. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, all but one of those from the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Discovering His True Position
Maybe Sarri was still trying to work out the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
