Marcin Bulka has had to wait for his chance to impress, but once handed it, he has grasped it with both hands. Having left Chelsea and then PSG in search of playing time, Bulka joined Nice with the aim of finally wearing the No.1 jersey.
However, Kasper Schmeichel’s arrival at the club in the summer of 2022 threw a spanner in the works. Amidst reports that INEOS were insistent that Schmeichel play over Bulka, the latter was limited to just six appearances in all competitions.
Now 24 years old, this season was a pivotal one for the Polish international, and the build-up to the 2023/24 season was shrouded in uncertainty for Bulka. New manager Francesco Farioli had a difficult choice to make going into the first game of the season against Lille OSC. “We had the talent of Marcin, but also the experience and quality of Kasper. With the staff, we reflected on what we would gain and lose with each option,” revealed Farioli.
Ultimately, it was Bulka who earned the No.1 jersey, with Schmeichel ultimately departing the club on a free transfer. The Polish international wasted no time repaying the faith shown in him.
Bulka went 78 days without conceding
He quickly asserted himself as the most in-form goalkeeper in Ligue 1, winning the September Player of the Month; his crucial double-penalty save against rivals Monaco contributed to him winning that reward.
Bulka also went 78 days without conceding a goal for club and country and kept an incredible 10 clean sheets in his first 13 games of the season. Nice, by the start of December, had the best defensive statistics of any team in Europe’s top five leagues, and whilst there is a collective solidity at the Riviera club, Bulka’s contribution to that record has been substantial.
He often isn’t called upon for large periods of matches, but his shot-stopping when called upon has been phenomenal, and he is a reassuring presence in between the sticks, consequently providing his defence with the confidence to perform. He has also been more than capable with the ball at his feet and has shown himself to be a press-resistant goalkeeper. Bulka looks destined to win the Golden Glove this year in Ligue 1, and should he maintain his level of performance into the New Year, he will be one of the most coveted assets on the market come the summer.
