Everton manager David Moyes defended midfielder Idrissa Gueye’s red card for striking a teammate, asserting he welcomes “angry” players, despite the violent incident that occurred during a winning match.
Moyes told Sky Sports he believed the referee could have handled the situation differently. He added that he did not see the incident as “that serious.”
The coach stated he likes when his players “fight among themselves and get angry with each other if they make a bad play or a wrong action.” He views such passion as essential for “a winning team with grit.”
The incident occurred 13 minutes into the Premier League match against Manchester United. Gueye, 36, received a straight red card after slapping teammate Michael Keane.
The assault followed a defensive error by Keane, a central defender for the Liverpool-based club. Gueye immediately expressed his dissatisfaction before resorting to aggression.
Despite playing with 10 men for most of the game, Everton secured a 1-0 victory. This match was part of the 12th round of the Premier League season.
Moyes confirmed that Gueye later apologized in the locker room for his expulsion. The coach also praised his players’ performance and thanked them for the win.