The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in ten goals while scoring only two in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, but then he to later acknowledge that the board had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were facing for accounting issues. Speculation that he could resign were unfounded, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Return
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, Lazio were advocating for him to extend his stay for another season. The transfer ban necessitated a reconsideration. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team without replacements.
He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league for Lazio in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, later stated Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Finding His Natural Fit
It's possible the coach was still trying to identify the exact type of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
