Rumours have been rife this week that the Dutchman is about to be sacked and replaced by Jose Mourinho, who was dismissed by Chelsea last Thursday.
But after just under five minutes' questioning at his weekly press conference, Van Gaal refused to take any more questions and walked out, saying as he passed a table of mince pies and wine that had been laid on for the media: "I wish you a merry Christmas and also maybe a happy new year when I see you.
"Enjoy the wine and a mince pie
Goodbye."
The press conference lasted just four minutes and 58 seconds in total
The Dutchman only answered three questions from the broadcast media and then refused to take any questions from the written press.
It was clear the 64-year-old, who is halfway through his three-year contract, was in an angry mood from the moment he took his seat in the media room at the club's training ground in Carrington.
"Has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologise to me? That's what I'm wondering," he snapped after being asked about Arsene Wenger's claim Van Gaal's treatment had been "disrespectful".
Senior club sources who were fulsome in their praise of Van Gaal three weeks ago, have fallen silent of late, which has fuelled speculation the Dutchman is about to leave.
Van Gaal insists the board are not to blame for the speculation, however, and pointed the finger squarely at the media instead.
The former Bayern Munich manager said his family and friends had been adversely affected by the criticism and claimed he had been contacted by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and director David Gill recently about the matter.
Van Gaal continued: "(I have read) my (former) colleague (Mourinho) was here already
What do you think happens with my wife or my kids? Or with my grandchildren? Or with the fans of Manchester United? Or my friends? What do you think? They have called me a lot of times and also Arsene Wenger is saying something about that.
"So you think that I want to talk with the media now
I am here only because of the Premier League rules
I have to talk with you
But I can only see when I say something that you use my words in your context."
Source : PA
Source: PA