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The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy on Saturday afternoon. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had allowed a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.

The Campaign Unraveling?

Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist any cohesion maintaining its structure to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager in the summer transfer window, before he publicly stated that the club had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for accounting issues. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.

The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as behind the scenes, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the rest of their opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or self-destructing.

Cancellieri's Unforeseen Presence

One individual remained positive through it. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this season. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, Lazio were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The registration embargo forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team lacking backup options.

Cancellieri arrived originally when Sarri was last in charge, at that time a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left after that campaign, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."

Finding His True Position

Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of Cancellieri's abilities. Billed as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself most of that campaign as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn