The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a team that had conceded a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with club owner Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign falling apart, or had there never been a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Speculation that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as off the field, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other first five games, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, observers have struggled to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unforeseen Presence
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were attempting to stay there for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Natural Fit
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to identify the nature of his skill set. Originally described as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
