The Everton midfielder received a warm ovation from his fellow squad members after delivering an apology for his extraordinary red card during the recent victory at Old Trafford.
Unprecedented Incident in Premier League
The midfielder earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the match. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they played with a man down for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to secure David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.
'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'
Team Reaction
Gueye was unable to secure an chance to speak with Moyes or his teammates at half-time. Afterwards, with the away dressing room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to speak to the entire group and Keane in particular.
- Gueye apologized to the defender for striking him across the head
- The intense 13th-minute altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
- Additionally he apologized to the team for leaving them with a monumental task
- Gueye's words were positively accepted by the squad
Potential Ramifications
Gueye may yet be disciplined by Everton despite the manager's statement that he likes his players fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular punishment process for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is likely to be applied in Gueye's case.
Ban and International Duty
The Merseyside club could be without their key midfielder until the new year. Gueye will serve a three-game ban against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Forest but could be called up for Africa Cup of Nations 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.'
Rival Reaction
Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt claimed his team of showing no immediacy in Monday's defeat, which halted their winning streak at multiple matches.
- 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Netherlands international
- 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging
The Red Devils travel to Crystal Palace for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented De Ligt. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'
