Toffees Squad Members Applaud Gueye After Sincere Apology for Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his fellow squad members after delivering an explanation for his shocking red card during Monday's triumph at Old Trafford.
Unprecedented Incident in English Football
The midfielder earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for striking a teammate in 17 years when he slapped Michael Keane during the match. Everton's performance was remarkable as they played with 10 men for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to secure David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in 18 attempts.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Reaction
The Senegalese international did not get an chance to speak with the manager or his teammates at the interval. Afterwards, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the narrow victory, the 36-year-old requested to address the whole team and the defender specifically.
- Gueye apologized to the defender for striking him across the face
- The heated early altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
- He also apologized to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
- His apology were warmly received by the players
Possible Consequences
Gueye could still be disciplined by the club despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his team members competing with each other. The Scot has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is likely to be applied in this situation.
Suspension and National Team Duty
The Merseyside club could be without their influential player until the January. Gueye will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be selected for AFCON duty by his national team before he can return to play against Chelsea on 13 December.
'Emotions can run high,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Opposition Reaction
Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt claimed United of showing no urgency in the recent defeat, which halted their unbeaten run at multiple matches.
- 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Dutch defender
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging
The Red Devils head to Selhurst Park for the weekend lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'