"I Love It": Everton Coach's Unexpected Comment on Player Fight

Everton manager David Moyes commented on a skirmish that broke out between his players during their match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday, which ended in a 1-0 victory for Everton despite being reduced to ten men.

1. Incident Details and Coach's Reaction

• The Incident: In the 13th minute, after a Manchester United attack, Everton players Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane exchanged words, and Gueye proceeded to slap Keane across the face. Referee Tony Harrington immediately showed Gueye the red card.

• Moyes on the Red Card: Moyes expressed surprise at the speed of the decision: "I am surprised... I thought the referee might have taken a little longer to think about it." He acknowledged that the rules necessitate a red card for such an act.

• The Unexpected Positive Side: Despite his disappointment over the sending-off, Moyes expressed admiration for the fighting spirit and emotional tension, stating:

  "I love my players fighting each other and getting upset with each other over a bad pass or something like that. You want a winning team, and you want that resilience and toughness that got us the result."

• Justifying Player Anger: Moyes added that former players would understand: "Those of us who were footballers will tell you that you often get upset with your teammates."

2. Idrissa Gueye's Apology

• Public Apology: Idrissa Gueye apologized to his teammate Michael Keane and everyone at the club via an Instagram story.

• Taking Responsibility: Gueye stated: "I would like to apologize first to my teammate Michael Keane, I take full responsibility for my reaction... What happened does not reflect my personality or the values I believe in, I will make sure it does not happen again."