Toffees Teammates Applaud Gueye After Sincere Apology for Michael Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder was given a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after delivering an explanation for his extraordinary red card during Monday's triumph at Manchester United.
Rare Situation in English Football
The midfielder became the first 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 heroic as they played with 10 men for 85 minutes, 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,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Reaction
Gueye did not get an opportunity to speak with the manager or his teammates at half-time. Afterwards, with the away dressing room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old requested to address the whole team and the defender specifically.
- Gueye apologized to Keane for slapping him across the face
- The intense early confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
- He also said sorry to the squad for leaving them with a monumental task
- His apology were positively accepted by the players
Potential Ramifications
The 36-year-old may yet be disciplined by Everton despite Moyes' statement that he likes his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is expected to be implemented in this situation.
Ban and International Duty
The Merseyside club could be without their key player until the new year. The Senegalese international will serve a three-game suspension against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but might be selected for Africa Cup of Nations duty by his national team before he can return to play against the Blues on mid-December.
'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Rival Perspective
At the same time, Mathijs de Ligt accused United of lacking urgency in Monday's loss, which halted their winning streak at multiple matches.
- 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' 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 noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'