Idrissa Gueye received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his shocking dismissal during the recent triumph at Old Trafford.
Unprecedented Incident in English Football
Gueye earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a teammate in 17 years when he slapped his defensive colleague during the match. Everton's performance was heroic as they played with a man down for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on his accounts. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'
Dressing Room Reaction
Gueye did not get an chance to speak with Moyes or his teammates at half-time. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the veteran asked to address the entire group and Keane in particular.
- He expressed regret to the defender for slapping him across the face
- The intense early confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
- Additionally he said sorry to the team for leaving them with a difficult challenge
- Gueye's words were warmly received by the squad
Possible Consequences
Gueye could still be punished by Everton despite the manager's admission that he likes his team members competing with each other. The Scot has a standard punishment process for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is likely to be applied in this situation.
Ban and National Team Commitments
Everton could be without their influential player until the January. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but might be called up for Africa Cup of Nations duty by his national team before he can return to play against the Blues on 13 December.
'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'
Rival Perspective
Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender accused United of lacking immediacy in the recent defeat, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.
- 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' said the Netherlands international
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging
The Red Devils travel to Selhurst Park for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'
