The feeling at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful this past Saturday. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had let in a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their last five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Unraveling?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist any cohesion maintaining its structure to start with? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach this summer, only for him admitted that the management had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were facing for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to tell if they are improving or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unexpected Comeback
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio this season. He spent the last one at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, his owning club were pushing for him to extend his stay a while longer. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He joined initially during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances with the club in 2022-23, almost all of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was persistently working to work out the nature of his skill set. Labeled as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
