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The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had let in 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.

This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?

Was the team's progress falling apart, or was there ever any cohesion keeping it intact from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.

Lazio appeared equally disorganized during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or collapsing.

The Youngster's Unforeseen Presence

A single player remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio during this campaign. He was on last season on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, Lazio were attempting to stay there for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.

He joined initially under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star but then not selecting him."

Uncovering His True Position

Maybe Sarri was persistently working to work out the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Labeled as an attacking winger when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. Across 63 games on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn