There were some doubts in the summer over how well Melvin Bard would cope with the changes at OGC Nice. For the previous two seasons, Bard had the favour of his coaches, but with the departure of Didier Digard, and the introduction of new manager Francesco Farioli there were warning signs for the young left-back.
This could have spelt trouble for the defender, he did not have the confidence of Farioli, who admitted that he was “slightly puzzled about whether he could adapt to our system.” However, to the delight of the manager he was met with a player who “Worked with total commitment and incredible application.”
It was not the first time in the player’s short career that he has had to prove himself. Before Bard moved to Nice from Olympique Lyonnais in 2021, Peter Bosz, his then-manager had been critical of the fullback. It was a stance that only softened once Bard had departed and begun putting in performances for Le Gym that left Lyon questioning if they had made a terrible mistake letting him walk.
This season Bard has proven to be an invaluable component of the best defence in the league, which by the midpoint of the competition had only conceded nine goals. It is not simply the level of his performance but the consistency with which Bard has performed that has helped the team climb to second in the table.
Bard adding assists to his game
In possession, the defender remains a reliable presence. His searching movements and patience have been essential qualities in helping the side build out from the back, while his pace and willingness to fly forward provide a layer of unpredictability that combines nicely with Jérémie Boga on the wing.
If there were to be a puzzling aspect to the fullback’s game, it would be that a player who looks so comfortable bombing forward and threatening the opponent’s backline has always recorded a low assist and expected assists tally. Last season, Bard provided no assists for his teammates in 33 appearances for the club, while this has increased under Farioli’s regime to two assists in 17 matches.
Still, it is clear that Bard has earned the trust of his new manager and the club will be counting on the young left-back to help them mount their podium challenge, and perhaps even push them that bit further into a title race.
