Everton Teammates Applaud Gueye After Sincere Apology for Keane Incident

The Everton midfielder received a round of applause from his fellow squad members after delivering an explanation for his shocking dismissal during Monday's triumph at Manchester United.

Unprecedented Incident in English Football

The midfielder earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a teammate in 17 years when he struck Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's performance was remarkable as they played with a man down for 85 minutes, including added time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Dressing Room Reaction

The Senegalese international was unable to secure an chance to converse with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the veteran asked to address the whole team and the defender in particular.

• He expressed regret to the defender for striking him across the face
• The heated early altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
• He also said sorry to the team for leaving them with a monumental task
• Gueye's words were positively accepted by the players

Potential Consequences

The 36-year-old may yet be punished by Everton despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his players fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular punishment process for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is likely to be applied in this situation.

Ban and National Team Duty

Everton may find themselves without their key player until the January. The Senegalese international will complete a three-match ban against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be selected for Africa Cup of Nations duty by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on mid-December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Reaction

At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused his team of showing no immediacy in Monday's loss, which halted their winning streak at five games.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Netherlands international
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it's difficult

The Red Devils travel to Selhurst Park for the weekend lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'