Thierno Barry has revealed how he transformed his fortunes at Everton after turning boos into cheers. The striker scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 4-0 Carabao Cup victory at Preston North End on Wednesday night, making it four goals in two games to start the season.
His early-season form contrasts sharply with last year, when he waited until December to score his first goal for the club. During the second half of the campaign, he was booed by his own supporters during home games at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Redemption and Support
Now a different picture is emerging, with supporters chanting his name throughout the win at Deepdale. "It is always a pleasure to score, so I am happy to score three," he said. "I am happy because I want to play better than last season, and I do a lot of things for that."
He credited his improvement to work with analysts and his coach, as well as a better relationship with team-mates. "When you score a goal, you think it is easy because it is a tap-in, but it is important to be in space at the right moment," he added.
Overcoming Difficulties
Asked about the reception from supporters, Barry recalled a specific moment. "Last season was very tough and I remember when I played at Hill Dickinson, they booed me against Chelsea," he admitted. "It was really difficult for me at that moment because my parents were in the stands, and now everything has changed."
He explained how he overcame those difficulties: "When I was young, I was in moments more difficult than that. I have a good mindset. When I was younger I slept on the floor, so I have had more things harder than that."
Confidence and Development
The France Under-21 international scored eight times in a difficult debut season in England. Before the Preston game, he had a clear aim: "Today we play against a team playing (in the) Championship and I need to show the difference because I play in the Premier League."
He hopes to use his confidence against Bournemouth next. Blues boss David Moyes wants more from the striker, and Barry is keen to keep developing, including learning English by watching Netflix series like Power and aiming to learn at least one new word every day.
