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Idrissa Gueye was given a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his shocking dismissal during the recent victory at Old Trafford.

Rare Situation in Premier League

Gueye became the initial Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a teammate in 17 years when he struck his defensive colleague during the match. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they competed with 10 men for 85 minutes, including added time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory 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.'

Dressing Room Response

Gueye was unable to secure an opportunity to converse with the manager or his colleagues at half-time. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the narrow victory, the veteran asked to address the entire group and Keane specifically.

• He expressed regret to Keane for striking him across the head
• The heated early altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
• He also said sorry to the squad for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were warmly received by the players

Potential Ramifications

Gueye could still be disciplined by Everton despite Moyes' statement that he likes his players fighting with each other. Moyes has a standard 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 key player until the new year. Gueye will serve a three-game ban against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be called up for AFCON responsibilities by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on mid-December.

'Emotions can run high,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Opposition Reaction

At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused his team of lacking immediacy in the recent loss, which ended their unbeaten run at five games.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Dutch defender
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging

United travel to Selhurst Park for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' commented the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'