Toffees Teammates Give Applause to Gueye After Apology for Michael Keane Slap
The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary red card during Monday's triumph at Old Trafford.
Unprecedented Situation in Premier League
The midfielder became the first Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a fellow player in nearly two decades when he slapped his defensive colleague during the fixture. Everton's display was heroic as they played with a man down for the majority of the game, including added time, to secure David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.
'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Team Response
The Senegalese international did not get an chance to speak with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to speak to the whole team and the defender specifically.
- He expressed regret to Keane for slapping him across the face
- The intense early confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
- He also apologized to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
- Gueye's words were positively accepted by the squad
Possible Ramifications
The 36-year-old could still be disciplined by the club despite Moyes' statement that he likes his players competing with each other. Moyes has a standard disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is expected to be implemented in this situation.
Ban and International Commitments
Everton may find themselves without their influential midfielder until the new year. Gueye will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be called up for AFCON duty by Senegal before he can return to play against Chelsea on 13 December.
'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Opposition Perspective
At the same time, the Manchester United defender claimed his team of showing no immediacy in the recent loss, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.
- 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Netherlands international
- 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging
United travel to Crystal Palace for the weekend noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said De Ligt. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'