Everton forward Thierno Barry has delivered a pointed response to his early-season detractors, revealing that the intense scrutiny affected his family more than himself as he finds a rich vein of scoring form.
Barry's Family Felt the Brunt of Early Criticism
The 23-year-old striker, a £27 million summer signing from Villarreal, admitted that while he remained largely unaffected by the harsh words, his family back home in France bore the emotional weight. "I think not me but my family [were affected]," Barry stated. "Every day my family sends me people saying I am the worst striker, so I say, 'OK, I am the worst striker', so that is why I do this celebration (when scoring)."
Proving the Doubters Wrong on the Pitch
Barry has emphatically silenced his critics with a notable upturn in performance, netting his fourth goal in five Premier League matches during Monday's 1-1 draw against Leeds United. This recent flourish comes after a challenging start, where he failed to score in his first 14 league appearances and managed just one goal in 20 matches across all competitions prior to this productive run.
"You see the critics but I like to prove people wrong who have the wrong idea of me," the striker asserted. "I see the criticism and I don't care." His celebratory gestures now serve as a direct retort to the negative commentary that once flooded in.
Adapting to the Demands of English Football
The French forward acknowledged that his transition from La Liga to the Premier League presented a significant hurdle, describing it as a "steep learning curve." He highlighted the physical demands as a key area for development. "It is difficult to play against the best defenders in the world and I just need to adapt," Barry explained. "It is more physical here. I am tall but I am not big so I need to work on my body to know how to use it to protect the ball."
His recent goal-scoring exploits have provided a timely boost for Everton, especially with fellow striker Beto having found the net only twice in the league this season, which had placed the club's attacking options under intense examination.
Barry's resilience and improving form suggest he is now successfully navigating the rigours of English football, turning early adversity into a source of motivation on his journey to establish himself at Goodison Park.
