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Idrissa Gueye received a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary red card during Monday's triumph at Old Trafford.

Rare Incident in Premier League

The midfielder earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he slapped Michael Keane during the match. The Toffees' performance was heroic as they competed with a man down for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to secure David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in 18 attempts.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Dressing Room Response

The Senegalese international did not get an chance to converse with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Afterwards, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to speak to the whole team and Keane specifically.

• He expressed regret to the defender for striking him across the head
• The heated early altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
• Additionally he said sorry to the squad for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were positively accepted by the players

Potential Ramifications

The 36-year-old could still be disciplined by Everton despite Moyes' statement that he likes 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 implemented in this situation.

Suspension and International Duty

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key player until the new year. The Senegalese international will complete a three-game ban against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be called up for AFCON responsibilities by Senegal before he can return to play against Chelsea 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 accused United of lacking immediacy in the recent defeat, which halted their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Dutch defender
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' who drop back it's difficult

The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said the defender. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'