Gennaro Gattuso, the manager of Lazio, expressed his discontent over the absence of fans during a recent match against AC Milan. After a 2-2 draw on Saturday, he stated, "For me, football without fans is shit," emphasizing the emotional void felt in empty stands.

Despite the draw, Lazio remains at the top of the table, a surprising outcome considering the team's struggles earlier in the season. They started Gattuso's tenure with a cup defeat and faced significant player losses over the summer. However, the real concern lies with the fans, whose season ticket sales plummeted from nearly 30,000 to less than 4,500, leading to a significant decrease in attendance.

Lazio supporters have organized protests against club owner Claudio Lotito, opting to boycott home games while actively supporting the team during away matches. Their grievances include:

• A long trophy drought, with no titles won in nearly seven years.
• Allegations of neglect regarding memorials for fallen fans.
• Concerns over Lotito's focus on other ventures, including his political career and ownership of multiple clubs.

An open letter signed by over 45,000 fans criticized Lotito for diminishing their dreams and highlighted the lack of significant player signings. This season, after a transfer embargo, Lazio made some strategic acquisitions, including Davide Frattesi, who has made an immediate impact.

The recent match against Milan highlighted the stark contrast between the clubs, as the majority of audible support came from Milan fans. Gattuso acknowledged the absence of Lazio supporters, suggesting their presence could have changed the outcome:

Maybe with our fans here we would have managed to hold out.

In this turbulent environment, Gattuso remains hopeful for the future, recognizing the dedication of the fans who continue to rally behind the team despite the ongoing boycott.