There was a mix of disbelief and redemption at Old Trafford on Monday night as Idrissa Gueye became the first Premier League player in 17 years to be sent off for striking one of his own teammates. Yet, in an extraordinary show of unity, the Everton squad applauded the midfielder after he delivered a heartfelt apology in the dressing room following their heroic 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
Gueye’s moment of madness came early in the game when he lashed out at defender Michael Keane, slapping him across the face after a misplaced pass inside his own penalty area nearly handed United captain Bruno Fernandes a scoring chance. The incident stunned the Everton bench and left manager David Moyes with the unenviable task of guiding his side through 85 minutes — plus stoppage time — with ten men.
Remarkably, the Toffees held firm. They not only resisted United’s pressure but snatched a historic win — Moyes’ first ever victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in 18 attempts, and only Everton’s second in 33 years at the iconic stadium.
After the final whistle, with spirits high in the away dressing room, Gueye asked to address the team. In a sincere speech, the 36-year-old apologised to Keane personally and to the entire squad for his outburst, acknowledging the burden he had placed on them. He also thanked his teammates for their resilience and professionalism in securing such an important victory.
Despite Moyes’ public comment that he “likes my players fighting each other,” the club’s disciplinary code means Idrissa Gueye will almost certainly be fined. His automatic three-match suspension rules him out of fixtures against Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest, and with the Africa Cup of Nations approaching, his next appearance may not come until mid-December.
Idrissa Gueye later took to social media to apologise publicly, writing:
“I want to apologise first to Michael Keane. I take full responsibility for my reaction. Emotions can run high, but nothing justifies such behaviour. I’ll make sure it never happens again.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Mathijs de Ligt lamented his team’s “lack of urgency,” admitting Everton’s determination made all the difference. “The Premier League is not for the weak,” the Dutchman said, calling on his side to “stay together and bounce back” in their next clash against Crystal Palace.
