Between the stick and hope: An optimistic yet realistic look at Fluminense | OneFootball

by Fernando Félix

There’s an old market saying that “the customer is always right.” Personally, I prefer to see this only as an initial assumption, because, let’s face it, the customer isn’t always right—especially nowadays, when many are tempted to take advantage whenever possible. Drawing a parallel with football, many apply this paradigm to stadiums and argue that the fans are always right, too.

To evaluate this maxim when applied this way, we need to consider a few points. The first, and most important, is that the fanbase is not a single entity, a homogeneous block. On the contrary: it’s a macro-organism made up of distinct and absolutely individual entities. It’s a symbiosis that, in its imperfection, reaches a degree of perfection only a fanbase can create. It’s a complex and diverse equation, in which supporter “A” agrees with “B” on subject “Y”, while at the same time “B” disagrees with “A” on subject “X”.

In other words, bonds are formed and broken according to the topics up for discussion. Barroom theories are born as quickly as the final whistle, and for many, the first opinion is enough and must be defended to the bitter end. It’s as if changing your mind—or even refining and adjusting an already stated opinion—were a mortal wound to one’s pride, especially amid the chaos of social media. For all these reasons, it’s unrealistic to treat the fanbase as the owner of a single universal truth.

Just look at the current scenario: for many, criticizing has become the only synonym for supporting. Or rather, the rule has been established that those who don’t criticize aren’t real fans. A false premise has been created that those who don’t go on social media to rant about what they disapprove of supposedly don’t love the club. And woe to anyone who dares to disagree with the prevailing opinion! The reaction is immediate: a mob attack, a real swarm of aligned profiles ready to attack anyone who thinks differently. To speak well or offer praise for a situation, a player, or a manager, then… God forbid! These days, the simple act of praising is treated as incontrovertible proof that the person isn’t a true tricolor. Quickly, they are labeled a player’s fan, a manager’s fan, or anything else—but not a Fluminense supporter.

In the eyes of this segment of the fans, you have to be harsh and critical all the time. The result is that, for these people, the simple act of supporting has become something torturous. Where did the ability to rejoice in good moments go?

It’s worth remembering that we played in a Club World Cup in 2025, where we reached our peak. Then, with Zubeldía’s arrival, the team regained its competitiveness and tactical standard. Today, we play what many experts consider one of the best and most attractive brands of football in Brazil. Even so, many prefer to continue down this thorny path of only pointing fingers, faithfully believing that supporting has become synonymous with being abrasive.

I’m not saying I don’t agree that we need reinforcements. Seeking reinforcements, in fact, is like moving forward, breathing, or digesting: it’s a parasympatholytic movement. It has to be constant and efficient, because otherwise, this organism simply doesn’t survive.

However, it must be very difficult to live on social media every day just to criticize, taking on the role of great guardian of planning and overseer of others’ opinions. After all, for this segment of the fans, woe to anyone who wants to “enjoy” Fluminense in a different way.

The point is that we are in a much better stage than many want to believe

In the match against Palmeiras, in which we were defeated, even with Ganso playing as a false 9, Fluminense deserved a completely different result. We should have left there with all three points, if not for the extraordinary performance of Carlos Miguel and a lack of finesse in some plays—like the goal Hércules missed, unbelievably, right on the edge of the six-yard box.

In that game, Fluminense played with what many considered a mixed team, but which performed very well against one of the strongest squads in Brazil today, a strong contender for every title it will compete for. So, if the team played with a mixed lineup and still maintained high competitiveness, doesn’t that reflect the quality of the squad?

In other words, if you swap out the so-called main players and the team still maintains a high level of performance, capable of deserving a win against the all-powerful Palmeiras, in my eyes, this shows an extremely competitive squad with good options for various positions.

Maybe I’m an old-school romantic, someone who tries to understand football differently, or even an eternal optimist. But the fact that Fluminense needs a striker and also reinforcements for the defense doesn’t make me go around cursing and shouting to the four winds that we’re facing the worst management in the world, or that we’ll stop fighting for big things because of it. Quite the opposite.

I see Fluminense’s squad today as much more balanced and with many more options in crucial positions to carry out this season in a winning way, with real chances of winning titles. And if we’re in this position now, playing good football and proving “A + B” that the squad has quality, it’s because something in the work is being done well.

Is it an infallible job? No. Are there mistakes? Many, and there’s always room for improvement. But, between staying on a road full of thorns, brooding every time the club acts in a way I disagree with—which is very torturous—I prefer to stick with the hope our anthem carries and the certainty that this will be a year of celebrations.

We’ve already brought in Guilherme Arana, one of the best left-backs currently playing; we’ve already brought in Jemmes, a breakout defender who’s been showing great value; and Savarino, who is one of the best midfielders currently playing in South American football. I prefer to believe that good things are coming, that other players will arrive, and that we’ll have an amazing year. Obviously, I want more people to join, but that doesn’t stop me from seeing reality. And, for me, reality brings much more hope and expectations for good things than this attitude of wielding the world’s ruler on social media.

I’ll end this thought with the certainty that many will “cancel” me for having the courage to go against this wave of pessimism that has plagued our club for some time. But I’m sure that some who read this text will at least take some of these considerations forward. And, as far as I’m concerned, it’s fine if you disagree. That’s part of it.

Have a great Friday,

Fernando Félix

PS: Thanks to my friend Washington de Assis for the space here in your column

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.