Toffees Teammates Applaud Gueye After Sincere Apology for Michael Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his Everton teammates after delivering an apology for his shocking dismissal during Monday's victory at Old Trafford.
Rare Incident in English Football
The midfielder became the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a teammate in nearly two decades when he struck Michael Keane during the match. The Toffees' performance was remarkable as they competed with 10 men for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in 18 attempts.
'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Reaction
The Senegalese international did not get an opportunity to converse with the manager or his teammates at half-time. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the veteran requested to address the entire group and the defender in particular.
- Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the face
- The heated 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
- He also said sorry to the squad for putting them with a difficult challenge
- His apology were warmly received by the squad
Potential Consequences
Gueye could still be punished by the club despite Moyes' admission that he likes his team members fighting with each other. Moyes has a standard punishment process for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is expected to be applied in Gueye's case.
Suspension and National Team Duty
The Merseyside club may find themselves without their influential midfielder until the January. The Senegalese international will complete a three-match ban against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Forest but could be selected for AFCON duty by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on 13 December.
'Emotions can run high,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Rival Reaction
Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt accused United of showing no urgency in Monday's defeat, which ended their winning streak at five games.
- 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Dutch defender
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it's difficult
United travel to Crystal Palace for the weekend lunchtime start. 'The next game is really important now,' said the defender. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'