The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The home side was losing against Torino, a team that had let in a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was Lazio's season falling apart, or did there exist any cohesion holding it together from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, only for him publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to ascertain if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Comeback
At least one man continued to smile throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were pushing for him to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those from the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of his skill set. Labeled as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
