No, the story that came out had nothing to do with what happened.
In this case it's just not very likely. First, there's no fact in the report that's even remotely checkable, it could be something that's entirely made up. Secondly, there is nothing remotely specific about it, a player who wants to make a point would give an example or something. It would also be very arrogant to call it 'not fair to the fans', while the player is obviously saying this out of his own interest, I don't see Ibrahimovic like characters in this squad who could be this arrogant. It's also made particularly believable because it's the same narrative from the press we've been hearing since he intimidated them with his famous "that's a stupid question": the mighty Van Gaal who frightens his players into submission to do things they don't want to do. People who informed themselves about Van Gaal know for a fact that the players perception of his character is completely different from the cliches the press spit out once in a while. There are just too many players and former players who've said that he is easy to talk with, he's approachable, his door is always open, he likes players to give their opinion and he's a kind man.
So this statement echoes a journalists opininon about Van Gaal, and not a player's opinion about him. To me that's makes it not unlikely to be made up, or taken out of context to such an extend it has the same effect.