Moyes Backs Gueye: “I Like the Fight” After Red Card in Everton vs. United

Technical director David Moyes did not condemn Idrissa Gueye after the Everton midfielder was sent off for an altercation with his teammate in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Gueye received a red card in the 13th minute of the match, after confronting his teammate Michael Keane and slapping the defender after arguing over an incorrect pass that gave Bruno Fernandes a shooting opportunity that he couldn’t convert. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s goal in the 29th minute gave Everton the lead, who then struggled to defend against an increasingly frustrated United.

I like my players to fight among themselves if someone didn’t do the right thing. If you want that toughness and resilience to get a result, you want someone to act on it

David Moyes

Moyes commented that Gueye, 36, apologized to his teammates after the match and added: “No problem, we move on.” The midfielder posted on Instagram after the match:

I want to apologize first to my teammate Michael Keane. I want to take full responsibility for my action. I also apologize to my teammates, the staff, the fans, and the club. Emotions can be intense, but nothing justifies such behavior.

Moyes, who had previously been on the Old Trafford bench 17 times without achieving a victory, described the result as remarkable. Ruben Amorim, from Manchester United, lamented his team’s lack of intensity.

Fighting is not a bad thing. Arguing doesn’t mean you don’t like each other. Arguing means you lose the ball and I will fight you because we will concede a goal. That was my feeling.

Ruben Amorim

The defeat left United in tenth place, where victory could have placed them in fifth. Amorim added: “I know where we are. I had the feeling during this streak and I also talk about it: we are not even close to the point to fight for the best positions in the league. We have a lot to do.”