A video circulated showing Thierno Barry in tears during an individual coaching session last season, a moment that captured the raw struggle of an elite athlete battling form and confidence in front of a watching world. The Everton striker had been grinding through extra work with his personal coach when the weight of underperformance became overwhelming, and he found himself unable to push through the mental barrier holding him back.
The assumption often exists that players operating at the highest level are perpetually content, but the reality shifts dramatically when results disappoint and scrutiny intensifies. What emerges instead is something closer to torment. Scott Chickelday, the coach conducting that session, witnessed the genuine distress firsthand.
"That was real emotion," Chickelday tells Sky Sports. "They were true tears."
"He was on the floor when I met him and that video obviously shows it," he says.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Barry made himself available for all 38 of Everton's Premier League fixtures following his transfer from Villarreal. The striker started 21 matches and appeared from the bench in 17 others, accumulating eight goals across the season. His involvement was constant, yet his output and confidence wavered.
The decision by Barry to release that footage into the public domain signals a fundamental shift in his mindset and circumstances. Yet releasing such vulnerability in a competitive environment carries obvious risk.
"It could have gone two ways for him," concedes Chickelday.
Instead, the response proved overwhelmingly positive.
"When you play badly as a player you get labelled for picking up your money and not caring. That video, a lot of Everton supporters have looked at it and thought, 'you know what, yes, he does bloody care'."
Barry's initiative in engaging Chickelday as a dedicated coach reveals much about his commitment to improvement. He has invested considerable effort into his recovery, attending additional pre-season camps designed to sharpen his physical conditioning and fortify his psychological resilience.
"He has had a big pre-season, putting himself in extra camps to get fit, to get himself mentally tougher."
The transformation has been tangible.
"He has come back mentally stronger."Barry opened the new campaign with a goal in Everton's victory over Crystal Palace on the opening weekend. He then produced a hat-trick during the cup competition away at Preston. Most recently, he struck the decisive goal against Ipswich.
"We worked on his finishing and he has come back flying," says Chickelday, who describes Barry as one of the most personable individuals he has encountered professionally. "It has been a rollercoaster for him, getting booed by his own fans and being cheered like a hero. All these ups and downs."
Beyond the pitch, Barry navigates the complexities of fatherhood alongside his career demands.
"He has got a young baby too so he has had a lot going on. I know supporters will not look at that side of things because all they see is what he does on a Saturday. But he was adjusting to what is probably one of the toughest leagues in the world."
Barry's trajectory has been characterised by constant movement and adaptation. His development path took him through Sochaux's reserve setup, followed by single seasons in Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, and England. Remarkably, he has now spent longer at Everton's senior level than at any previous club.
Before Barry's arrival in the Premier League, his former coach at Beveren in Belgium, Gunter Vandebroeck, described him as
"hungry and determined"but acknowledged significant room for tactical development.
"Tactically, he had a lot to improve."At 23 years old, Barry remains in the early stages of his career arc.
Neither Barry nor those working with him harbour illusions about his completeness as a striker.
"He needs repetition, he knows he does," says Chickelday. "But he wants to do it. He still feels like he has got a lot to prove. It has just taken him that bit longer to find his feet."
The coaching work undertaken with Chickelday is calibrated to align with the demands of David Moyes's tactical system at Everton.
"We have to fall in line with that," Chickelday explains.The focus centres on the specific opportunities that Everton's attacking structure generates for their striker.
"It is about being better in those areas of his game so that when he does find himself in those areas, he is equipped to score. We work a lot on one-touch finishing within the width of the six-yard box. He has just got to get that consistency in his game now."
For Barry, the challenge transcends merely the chances he squanders. The critical issue involves preventing missed opportunities from contaminating his approach to the next chance. Moments of frustration on the pitch must be eliminated.
"It is about being mentally tough," says Chickelday.
"It is about resetting. You have to back yourself. It is the Harry Kane mindset. If you miss an opportunity, that has gone. It is on to the next one. You can still go out there on a Saturday and score goals even if you have not scored in the previous three games."
"Since working with players at this level, that is what I have learned. Talent gets you through the door. Confidence and mindset get you longevity and success. He struggled with that and he needed to get better at it. But he has got better as time has gone."
Barry's body language continues to attract commentary, though Chickelday contends that outward demeanour can deceive.
"He comes across as this big, confident person when you see his goal celebrations but there are times when he has been low in confidence underneath."
Statistical analysis supports the notion that Barry contributes meaningfully beyond goal-scoring. According to current season data, Barry ranks among the top-five players in the Premier League this season for both counter pressures and the number of high-speed runs made while pressing the opposition. His defensive work rate and pressing intensity have become defining features of his contribution.
The immediate challenge involves sustaining this upward trajectory.
"It is about not having fewer drop offs and becoming more consistent. I am sure that he will. And if he gets it right, he will go on to become a very good striker in the Premier League."This represents a pivotal moment in his Everton career.
Everton's attacking options remain limited until the January transfer window, creating a genuine opportunity for Barry to establish himself as the club's primary forward. The early indicators are encouraging. Barry's contract with Everton extends to 30 June 2029, providing the club and player with a substantial window to develop their partnership. Having opened up about his struggles, the Everton fanbase has rallied behind him.
"He was so low. But he pulled himself back up."
What comes next for Barry
Barry's recent form has been impressive, with three goals in one EFL Cup appearance and two goals in five Premier League appearances as of 6 October 2026. Everton face Hull City away on 11 October 2026, followed by a home fixture against Chelsea on 17 October, offering Barry consecutive opportunities to maintain his momentum against demanding opposition.
