Gennaro Gattuso, the former AC Milan and Everton midfielder known for his fiery post-match interviews, gave a heartfelt speech this Saturday after Lazio lost a two-goal lead at home to AC Milan. Speaking in Calabrian-accented Italian, Gattuso expressed his belief that "football without fans is shit," highlighting the importance of supporter presence in the game. Despite the loss, Lazio remains at the top of the Serie A table. Gattuso took charge of the team in August after a disappointing cup exit to a lower-league side, and the squad has faced challenges due to the departure of several key players. Nonetheless, the team has exceeded expectations this season. Lazio's season ticket sales have plummeted from nearly 30,000 last year to fewer than 4,500, according to the football finance website Calcio e Finanza. Last season's home game against Milan attracted 50,000 spectators, but Saturday’s match saw less than half that number, with a large portion of the crowd cheering for the visitors. Despite the low attendance, hundreds of Lazio fans gathered outside the team's training ground before the game, forming a convoy of mopeds to escort the players' bus to the Stadio Olimpico. Organized supporters' groups stated they would watch the game in pubs or at home as a protest against the club's owner, Claudio Lotito. Fans have continued to travel to away games, even for unglamorous pre-season matches, showing their loyalty despite boycotting home fixtures. The tension with Lotito has been ongoing, with an open letter posted to Change.org in January accusing him of stifling the fans' dreams over his more than 20 years as owner. The petition, signed by over 45,000 people, referenced the club's handling of a memorial for Vincenzo Paparelli, a Lazio supporter who died in a flare-related incident during a derby in 1979. Lotito was accused of preventing Paparelli's niece from entering the pitch during an event last November, though he denied the claim. Lotito, who has been active in Italian politics and was elected to the Senate in 2022, has also owned other football clubs, including Salernitana and Reggina. Lazio was under a transfer embargo last summer due to financial issues, but after the ban was lifted, the club made some strategic signings, including defender Danilho Doekhi, striker Albert Gudmundsson, and midfielder Davide Frattesi, who joined on loan from Inter for €5 million. Frattesi scored in each of his first three games for Lazio. In the match against Milan, Lazio's best attacking efforts came from Mattia Zaccagni, whose crosses led to goals from Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin. However, Milan's €50 million signing Diego Moreira scored twice in the second half to secure a 2-2 draw. Gattuso thanked the fans who came to show their support before the match, expressing his belief that everyone wants to experience the energy of a full stadium. He praised the players' pride in representing the club. As of now, Lazio leads the league with 10 points, followed closely by Roma and Inter Milan, both with 9 points.