Thierno Barry is determined to prove his doubters wrong as he aims to make his mark in the Premier League. The 23-year-old endured a rollercoaster debut season with Everton, scoring eight goals – including a stunning winner at Aston Villa – but also struggled to make an impact for large parts of the campaign.
Barry wants to use the positives from his first year in Royal Blue as a foundation for a big season ahead, and he believes he is in a good position to do so. Speaking after opening the scoring in Everton's 3-1 friendly win over Newcastle United, he said: "In football you always need to prove who you are. I don't think I showed my real personality last season. People think I'm just a chill guy. I like to laugh every time. So that's why I do my TikTok, so people know more about me. You can see I'm a good guy. I just want to play football, enjoy football and score goals."
Focus on the Psychological Side
Barry's focus this summer has been on the psychological side of the game more than the physical one, with the France youth international eager to adopt a mindset that will allow him to flourish on the big stage.
He explained: "I'm just trying to work a lot on my confidence. I think [this summer] is the first time where I did two weeks where I didn't touch the ball. I just focused on my mindset, because the first season was really hard. And when I start to touch the ball, [I want to do it] with confidence, because I know I can play. I know I can do a lot of things. And now I just need to show it."
Recalibration and Role Models
The former Villarreal forward took the opportunity to recalibrate when the season ended, going on holiday and spending time with his young family in a bid to switch off from football. When he did think about the game, it was while watching clips – in particular of Didier Drogba, a player he wants to model himself on.
His approach has worked. Barry has three goals and an assist through a pre-season in which he has been one of the club's best performers. That is not just down to him though, he admits: "I know more about my teammates now. I have a good connection with Tyrique [George], with Iliman [Ndiaye], with everybody to be fair. Now it's easier to play. I know more about my teammates so it's easier to move on the pitch."
