The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had conceded a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Unraveling?
Had their campaign unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, but then he publicly stated that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were about to receive for accounting issues. Reports that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other first five games, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Unforeseen Return
A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were pushing for him to extend his stay temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived in the first place when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 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 left following that term, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
