The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Had their campaign coming unstitched, or had there never been any cohesion keeping it intact in the first place? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, but then he to later acknowledge that the management had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.
The Youngster's Unforeseen Presence
One individual kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this season. He completed the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, Lazio were attempting to stay there for another season. The transfer ban forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived originally when Sarri was last in charge, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league for Lazio in 2022-23, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to identify the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
