"We have learnt because we have analysed Midjytlland. And we have seen that they are doing that and we think it is always offside," Van Gaal told BT Sport after his side's FA Cup win over Shrewsbury.
"That's why we have learned off Midjytlland the taking of the free-kicks and today we scored, and that's good I think."
So what other free-kick routines should Louis van Gaal rip off? Here are a few inspired set pieces to copy, and to avoid.
The Good - Brentford's Christmas tree wall
The Bees gave the 'Christmas Tree formation' an entirely different meaning earlier this season with this innovative free kick routine.
The routine was masterminded by the club's Italian set-piece specialist coach, Gianni Vio, a man dubbed 'The Little Wizard' on behalf of his weird and wonderful free kick choreography.
David Nugent
The man who's too good for the Championship but not quite good enough for the Premier League proved he's a pioneer when it comes to free-kick innovation.
Playing for Preston at the time, Nugent was the beneficiary of this sublime scooped free-kick that has never quite been replicated as well since.
German inefficiency
Usually famed for their ruthlessly efficient approach to football, this unidentified German team made an art out of appearing to be hopelessly inefficient.
This distractingly chaotic effort was so effective that the German national side tried to replicate it in the 2014 World Cup - to very different effect.
Made in Japan
The greatest free-kick routine of all time? Well, it's unquestionably the most laughably brilliant.
From the linked arms to the perfectly timed synchronised duck: we're speechless this has not caught on.
The Bad - Muller makes a meal of it
As hard to believe as it may be, this botched routine was actually rigorously rehearsed before Germany's World Cup knockout game with Algeria.
"We practised that free-kick in training, only the final chip wasn't right," Germany's Benedikt Howedes admitted.
Chelmsford
Not really a routine as much as a monumental balls-up.
With Chelmsford chasing an equaliser against non-league Hayes and Yeading, Sam Corcoran is punished in the worst way possible for his abysmal attempt at a set-piece delivery.
The classic 'ball in the face' ruse
They say you have to suffer for your art, and this Irish footballer certainly suffered in the name of free-kick innovation.
The only person who couldn't seem to see what was coming was the unfortunate player left with two black eyes.
The ugly - Cheltenham Town's attacking clearance
The build-up to this set piece promised so much; but the execution failed to live up to the impressive preparation.
As the four protagonists lined up in single file behind the ball, few people were expecting the ugly climax. Especially those fans who were in the firing line in row Z.
- Telegraph