The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress falling apart, or had there never been any cohesion holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, before he publicly stated that the board had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "misled" him.
Lazio appeared equally disorganized in their performances as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or imploding.
Matteo's Surprising Presence
One individual kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this season. He completed the last one with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his owning club were attempting to remain there for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in 2022-23, almost all of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed after that campaign, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His True Position
Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to identify the nature of his skill set. Billed as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as a struggling deputy 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
