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| Luke Shaw has been out of action since breaking his leg against PSV |
Van Gaal demonstrated his man-management skills by giving Shaw some unscheduled downtime from the daily drudgery of his rehabilitation and with it permission to miss tonight's Champions League tie with PSV Eindhoven.
England left-back Shaw suffered the horrific injury in United's opening Group B defeat against PSV back in September following a challenge from Hector Moreno and faces a battle to play again this term.
The setback has prevented the 20-year-old from being "the revelation of the season," according to Van Gaal, who explained his decision grant him leave of absence.
"The first reason was that he was fed up with the daily routine," said Van Gaal. "And the second reason I thought 'Why he is fed up?'
"Maybe it is because of the match of PSV and every player has to watch the game from the stadium to support their colleagues.
"So I give him four days off, but on Friday he has a scan and then we will know more about how the injury is going. I don't think he will be at the game, but I don't know."
Van Gaal, whose side's recovery in the competition since the 2-1 reverse in Holland has be swift, insisted his players will not seek retribution on Mexican defender Moreno even though the Old Trafford crowd is unlikely to spare him.
"No, my players are not doing that," he said. "I am sure of that so I don't think that shall be an issue. I have said already that it was not his purpose.
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| Louis van Gaal has allowed Luke Shaw to miss the PSV clash |
"It is not the first time somebody is injured with a broken leg but it is of course a loss for us. For me, and for us, he is a very important player and I said in advance that he would be the revelation of the season because last season was his adaptation season.
"He was on his way to do that.
"I cannot answer whether he will be back this season because you have to be very cautious.
"You can only say how he is dealing with his injury and I think it is very good." The focus during Van Gaal's reign seems drawn to what United do not do, so it feels timely he can offer a reminder of the progress he is overseeing.
United will reach the knockout stages of the competition with a game to spare should they overcome PSV, who are a point behind them in second place.
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| Van Gaal hinted Wayne Rooney may not return to the Man Utd starting XI |
Having guided the club back into the competition at the first attempt last season, and with his side currently in second place in the Premier League, Van Gaal's body of work comes against the din of expectation.
The Dutchman declined to bask in the forward steps United have taken when asked if he is ahead of schedule some 18 months after inheriting a "broken" squad, but a win at Old Trafford would represent further acceleration of the club's rehabilitation.
It is perhaps because of that Van Gaal felt able to deliver the sort of coded message to Wayne Rooney about stepping straight back into the starting line-up to which the striker has now grown accustomed.
Rooney, together with Anthony Martial, is available again following the illness that saw him miss the weekend win over Watford, but his manager was unwilling to make his plans public except for confirming Ander Herrera and Phil Jones are both injured.
"No, it is not automatic (Rooney will come back in). It is always a decision of the manager," said Van Gaal.
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