Thierno Barry was speaking after he scored his first Everton hat-trick as they comfortably beat Preston North End in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night
Thierno Barry celebrates after scoring for Everton against Preston North End
Thierno Barry celebrates after scoring for Everton against Preston North End(Image: (Nick Potts/PA Wire))
View 2 Images
Thierno Barry has opened up on how he has transformed his fortunes at Everton after turning boos into cheers. Barry resembled a striker reborn against Preston North End on Wednesday night, bagging a hat-trick to make it four goals in two games to start the season.
His early-season form is a far cry from last year, when he had to wait until December to score his first goal for the club. And it hasn't always been easy going for the forward, who was subject to boos from his own supporters during home games at Hill Dickinson Stadium in the second half of the campaign.
Now, though, a different picture is emerging, with supporters proudly chanting his name throughout their side’s 4-0 victory at Deepdale and Barry is loving every second of his redemption story.
Get YOUR Everton FC Newsletter
Get the best Everton FC news and analysis straight to your Inbox courtesy of the Echo!
To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:
Head THIS WAY
Enter your email and hit Subscribe.
“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.
“I work with the analysts and my coach. I also have a better relationship with my team-mates too and I hope I can continue like this.
“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. I am happy and I hope to score more tap-ins.”
When asked about the reception he received from his own supporters, one moment in particular came in to the forward's mind.
"It is good and it is better than last season," he admitted. "Last season was very tough and I remember when I played at Hill Dickinson, they booed me against Chelsea.
“It was really difficult for me at that moment because my parents were in the stands, and now everything has changed. I have also changed my mindset and I show more good things on the pitch.”
PRESTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Thierno Barry of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Preston North End and Everton at Deepdale on August 26, 2026 in Preston, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Thierno Barry celebrates after scoring the first of his three goals in Everton's 4-0 Carabao Cup win at Preston North End (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Asked how he overcame last season's difficulties, Barry revealed: “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, so that is why it is easier for me to change these things.”
The France Under-21 international would go on to score eight times in a difficult debut season in England, but such is the confidence Barry is playing with at the minute, he arrived in Lancashire with one thing on his mind.
“Before I came to the game, it was in my mind; 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 revealed.
“When you score you always have confidence, but it is your job when you are a striker, so I hope to use that to score again against Bournemouth.”
Blues boss David Moyes still wants more from the striker and Barry himself is keen to continue his development both on and off the pitch.
The forward likes to watch Netflix series like Power to better grasp the English language and aims to learn at least one new word every day.
“I think it is better, like the see pass (for Everton's first goal) from Myko (Vitalii Mykolenko); if I don’t have a good relationship with him, he can’t pass me the ball, and it is the same with Brennan Johnson,” he believes on the importance of chemistry with his team-mates.
“But I need to improve more to talk with my team-mates more, as it is very difficult when you are in this country and you speak another language, so I try to do more.
Article continues below
“I try to just speak with my team-mates and every day I learn a new word because I was very s**t in school, so I can’t have a teacher and when I go home I just need to sleep.
“But I always watch a series (on Netflix) in English, but I try to talk with everyone to learn a new word everyday."