The mood at their home stadium was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist a thread holding it together in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, before he to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were about to receive for fiscal problems. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy in their performances as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Return
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He completed the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to extend his stay temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived initially during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league for Lazio in that campaign, almost all of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Finding His True Position
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the exact type of his skill set. Originally described as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
