“It's obviously my fault.” Melvin Bard didn't mince his words in front of the press after Nice vs. Freiburg. He also took responsibility on social media, posting to supporters that it was “not good enough for you.”

“I made these two mistakes on my birthday. It wasn't a very good evening, but that's how it is. I have to take responsibility, but I also have to forget about it. I'm taking the defeat personally today.’

Reflecting on the three goals conceded, the Nice captain felt that he may have been “a little too relaxed” for the equaliser. “I saw the attacker a little further away than he was.” As for the German side's third and final goal, he pointed to the large spaces left open for the opposition: “We were too open on the third goal between our defensive line and our attackers. There was too much space. But I think conceding those two goals almost in quick succession really hurt.”

Things started well for Les Aiglons, with Kevin Carlos opening the scoring: “We started the match well, we were playing better than in previous games where we were sitting deep, we were leading 1-0. We were doing our job, we had the game in our hands... But we lacked aggression in our duels.”

What next? ‘“Pick ourselves up, work hard and go and win in Metz in style. That's the only option really.” Before returning to European action in three weeks' time in Porto: “There are four games left in the league stage.”

For qualification or for pride? “Everything is to play for. We can still qualify. Even and especially for ourselves.”

---