The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a side that had let in ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or was there ever a thread maintaining its structure to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, but then he to later acknowledge that the board had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that his departure was imminent were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic during matches as they were off it, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, observers have struggled to ascertain if they're getting better or collapsing.
Matteo's Unexpected Presence
One individual remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to remain with Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to remain there for another season. The registration embargo necessitated a reconsideration. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
He signed initially under Sarri's first spell, at that time a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances for Lazio in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Finding His Best Role
It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to identify the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. Across 63 games while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
