Everton forward Thierno Barry has spoken about the criticism he has faced since arriving in the Premier League, revealing how the scrutiny affected his family even as he worked quietly to find his footing in English football.
The 23-year-old is beginning to repay that patience, scoring his fourth goal in five league matches with a crucial late strike that earned Everton a 1–1 draw against Leeds United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Barry’s equaliser in the 76th minute continued a sharp upturn in form that contrasts sharply with the difficult start to his Everton career.
Thierno Barry via Instagram. pic.twitter.com/zO54AbXFrV
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Signed for an initial £27 million from Villarreal, the striker endured a frustrating goal drought before finally opening his account in December’s 3–0 victory over Nottingham Forest. During that spell, criticism from supporters and pundits intensified, something Barry admits took a toll at home.
‘My family felt it more than me’
“I think not me but my family,” Barry said, reflecting on the backlash. “Every day my family sends me people saying I am the worst striker. So I say, ‘Okay, I am the worst striker,’ and that is why I do this celebration.”
The celebration, where Barry mouths “me?” after scoring, has become a pointed response to the doubts surrounding him.
While he insists the noise does not affect his performances, he is driven by the desire to challenge perceptions. “You see the critics, but I like to prove people wrong who have the wrong idea of me,” he added.
Adapting to England’s demands
Barry also offered insight into why the adjustment to the Premier League took time. Moving from La Liga, he found the pace and physicality of English football demanding.
“It is more physical here,” he explained. “I am tall, but I am not big, so I need to work on my body and learn how to use it better.”
That adaptation, he believes, has come through consistent training and trust from manager David Moyes. “To improve fast you need to play, and the gaffer has given me a lot of confidence,” Barry said.
Now scoring regularly and growing in belief, Barry is focused on sustaining his momentum. For a striker once written off too early, the response has been clear: hard work, resilience and goals that speak louder than
