Toffees Squad Members Give Applause to Gueye After Sincere Apology for Michael Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder received a warm ovation from his fellow squad members after issuing an apology for his shocking red card during Monday's victory at Manchester United.
Unprecedented Situation in Premier League
The midfielder became the first Premier League player to be sent off for striking a teammate in nearly two decades when he slapped Michael Keane during the fixture. The Toffees' performance was remarkable 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 visiting manager in multiple tries.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Team Reaction
The Senegalese international did not get an chance to converse with the manager or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the narrow victory, the veteran asked to address the whole team and Keane specifically.
- He expressed regret to Keane for slapping him across the face
- The intense 13th-minute altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
- Additionally he apologized to the squad for leaving them with a monumental task
- Gueye's words were warmly received by the squad
Possible Ramifications
The 36-year-old may yet be punished by Everton despite the manager's admission that he appreciates his players competing with each other. Moyes has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is likely to be implemented in this situation.
Suspension and International Duty
Everton may find themselves without their influential midfielder until the January. Gueye will serve a three-game ban against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be called up for AFCON responsibilities 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 Perspective
At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused United of lacking urgency in Monday's defeat, which ended their unbeaten run at five games.
- 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' said the Dutch defender
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it's difficult
United travel to Selhurst Park for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'
