Everton Teammates Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye After Sincere Apology for Michael Keane Incident
Idrissa Gueye received a round of applause from his fellow squad members after issuing an apology for his shocking dismissal during Monday's triumph at Old Trafford.
Unprecedented Situation in English Football
The midfielder earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the fixture. Everton's performance was heroic as they played with a man down for the majority of the game, including added time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Reaction
The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to speak with Moyes or his teammates at half-time. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the narrow victory, the veteran asked to address the whole team and Keane in particular.
- He expressed regret to Keane for striking him across the head
- The intense 13th-minute altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
- Additionally he apologized to the squad for putting them with a monumental task
- Gueye's words were warmly received by the squad
Potential Consequences
The 36-year-old may yet be punished by Everton despite the manager's statement that he appreciates his players fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular punishment process for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is likely to be implemented in this situation.
Suspension and National Team Duty
The Merseyside club may find themselves without their influential midfielder until the new year. Gueye will complete a three-game suspension against Newcastle, AFC Bournemouth and Forest but might be selected for AFCON duty by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on mid-December.
'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Opposition Reaction
Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt claimed United of lacking 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 were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
- 'When facing sides like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging
The Red Devils travel to Crystal Palace for the weekend lunchtime start. 'The next game is really important now,' said the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'