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Idrissa Gueye was given a warm ovation from his fellow squad members after delivering an apology for his shocking red card during Monday's triumph at Manchester United.

Rare Situation in English Football

The midfielder became the first Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a fellow player in 17 years when he slapped Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's performance was remarkable as they competed with a man down for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Team Response

The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to speak with the manager or his colleagues at half-time. Afterwards, with the away dressing room celebrating after the narrow victory, the 36-year-old asked to speak to the whole team and Keane in particular.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the head
• The heated early confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
• He also said sorry to the team for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were positively accepted by the players

Possible Consequences

Gueye could still be disciplined by the club despite the manager's admission that he appreciates his players fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is expected to be applied in this situation.

Suspension and International Duty

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key player until the January. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Forest but could be selected for AFCON responsibilities by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on 13 December.

'Emotions can run high,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Opposition Perspective

At the same time, the Manchester United defender claimed his team of lacking urgency in the recent defeat, which ended their winning streak at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Dutch defender
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging

The Red Devils travel to Crystal Palace for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'