Everton Squad Members Give Applause to Gueye After Sincere Apology for Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an explanation for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent victory at Manchester United.
Rare Situation in Premier League
The midfielder earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck Michael Keane during the fixture. The Toffees' performance was heroic as they competed with 10 men for the majority of the game, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in 18 attempts.
'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Response
The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to converse with the manager or his teammates at half-time. Afterwards, with the away dressing room celebrating after the narrow victory, the veteran asked to address the entire group and the defender specifically.
- He expressed regret to Keane for striking him across the face
- The intense 13th-minute altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
- Additionally he said sorry to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
- His apology were warmly received by the players
Potential Ramifications
Gueye could still be disciplined by the club 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 fines, which is likely to be applied in this situation.
Suspension and International Duty
Everton may find themselves without their influential midfielder until the new year. Gueye will serve a three-match ban against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for Africa Cup of Nations duty by his national team before he can return to play against Chelsea on 13 December.
'Emotions can run high,' Gueye continued. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'
Rival Reaction
At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused United of showing no immediacy in the recent defeat, which halted their winning streak at multiple matches.
- '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 becomes challenging
The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for Sunday's lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'
