Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag explains green and gold scarf gesture

Erik ten Hag insists he understood the meaning of the green and gold colours Manchester United supporters have adopted to signal their opposition to the Glazer family's ownership.

Ten Hag was filmed picking up a green and gold scarf that had been thrown towards him after United beat Aston Villa at Old Trafford and thrust it towards supporters.

Footage of the exchange went viral although figures at United say Ten Hag handed the scarf back to a supporter. United supporters held another protest against the Glazers prior to kick-off on Sunday as the family mulls over proposals to potentially take over United.

Also read: Ten Hag in the dark over transfer funds amid potential United takeover

When asked if his gesture should be viewed as an act of solidarity with fans, Ten Hag replied: "No, it was just polite," Ten Hag said. "But I know what’s going around, what the symbol of it is, but this matter was just polite."

Green and gold were the colours of Newton Heath, the club established in 1878 that was renamed Manchester United in 1902.

The green and gold movement started in January 2010 and, at its height in March, David Beckham draped a green and gold scarf around his neck after his cameo appearance for AC Milan in their 4-0 drubbing by United.

However, Beckham refused to condemn the Glazers' ownership after his first playing appearance back at Old Trafford following his departure in 2003.

Ten Hag's act has only fuelled his popularity among United supporters, having already ended the club's trophy drought and with United on course to return to the Champions League.

United invested a club-record £235.1million on five signings in Ten Hag's first summer and a similar outlay is not out of the question this summer as they plan