"Raises the bar": John Kennedy on search for No 9, confidence back | OneFootball

Going through a phase of recovery and taking a leading role in Fluminense's attack, John Kennedy sees the current season as a decisive moment in his career. After finding the back of the net and showing improvement on the field, the “Moleque de Xerém” addressed the fans’ demands and the club’s moves in the transfer market with ease, emphasizing that high expectations are part of daily life at Tricolor.

Viewing 2026 as a turning point, the striker does not shy away from responsibility and understands the impatience from the stands as something inherent to the greatness of the institution.

“I’ve said this in other interviews, it’s a year of opportunity. I’m at Fluminense, it’s a big club, there will always be pressure. The fans expect, they have to put on the pressure, that’s their role,” the player stated.

One of the most discussed topics behind the scenes and among fans is more than just a search for a high-profile center forward: it’s an obvious necessity—and this, of course, directly affects the players in that position within the squad. But, far from feeling threatened by the possible arrival of a competitor for the role, JK sees the situation as beneficial for the team as a whole. He pointed out that reinforcements strengthen the squad and showed he is ready for the internal competition for a starting spot.

“And the pressure to sign a Number 9… as I said, I’m at a big club. They’re going to sign, and that’s good, it raises the level of the group, it raises the level of the squad. And I’m here to step in, fight for my spot, and do my best,” he declared.

The young athlete also made a point of emphasizing that his change in professional attitude is not something that just happened in recent weeks. According to him, the process of maturing began last season, but the results are only showing now thanks to increased self-esteem and confidence on the pitch.

“Since last year I had already changed (my mindset), but things just weren’t happening. I have the same mindset, but now with better, higher confidence,” he explained.

Finally, when analyzing his recently scored goal, John Kennedy highlighted the focus and daily dedication in training, essential elements for making the most of the opportunities that arise during the 90 minutes.

“A striker helps best by scoring goals. I was happy, I had the chance, I was focused and I did it,” concluded Tricolor’s number 9.

Photo: Marcelo Gonçalves

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