Everton fans will recall the moment when Idrissa Gueye slapped Michael Keane during a 1-0 win at Old Trafford back in November.
The Senegal international was shown a straight red card after just 13 minutes following a clash with the England international, but saw his blushes spared by a stunning strike from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
It seemed as if Idrissa Gueye was annoyed at Michael Keane for leaving the ball and allowing Bruno Fernandes a shot at goal – but the Everton No.5 has now explained what really happened when speaking to Ben Foster on the Fozcast podcast.
Gary Neville disagrees with Gueye’s red card for Michael Keane slap
“How much venom was in that slap? He has been sent off for that. Was it a little slap or a whack? There is no doubt a hand comes out to the face, but it didn’t look like too much.
“They might have to send him off purely because there is a strike to the face. They were not fighting; it wasn’t a scrap. It could have been dealt with by a yellow; I don’t think it needed to be a red.”
Gary Neville on MNF
Michael Keane admits he never expected Idrissa Gueye to hit him
When asked about that incident at Old Trafford, the 33-year-old said: “Oh my God, I know. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. So he was blaming me for something that had happened. Obviously this happens in games. Now I was like, whatever, I didn’t even say anything to him. I was like, get back in position, kind of thing. But he kept shouting at me and then he started walking towards me and got in my face.
“I get on well with Gana, I like Gana, but he got in my face and he just wouldn’t move. So I just gave him a little push, like basically, go get back in position. Like, Jordan’s going to take the goal kick, what are you doing? He’s obviously reacted badly. I just, I didn’t expect him to slap me to be fair!”
Funnily enough, David Moyes admitted after the 1-0 win that he actually enjoyed seeing the altercation, with the Glaswegian feeling that it showed just how much his players care.
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The 62-year-old said: “Do you know something, I quite like when my players have a fight. I’m sort of saying I want them to be tough. I don’t want them to accept someone not doing well enough. Someone didn’t do the right thing.
“If you want a winning team, and that resilience and toughness that got us the result, you have to have players who are going to act that way.”
It was still a wildly unprofessional moment nonetheless. With Gueye being the oldest regular in the starting XI at the age of 36, you would expect a lot better from the former PSG midfielder.
On the topic of Keane and Gueye, both could be leaving the Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer.
Who should Everton be keeping and letting go this summer? 🫣
Jack Grealish in action for Everton
Credit: Getty Images/Visionhaus
The pair see their contracts expire at the end of the season, and it remains to be seen if The Friedkin Group decide to keep them around.
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