Man United will need to make some changes to Mauricio Pochettino’s office when he arrives.
Manchester United might need to get Mauricio Pochettino a big bowl of lemons for his office to help soak up any ‘negative energy’ and keep up his unique tradition. When he was coaching Tottenham Hotspur, Pochettino shared this quirky habit of having a bowl full of lemons in his office, changing them every ten days.
This year, it was revealed that he’s kept the same tradition with the US Men’s National Team. At his new job, Pochettino’s belief that lemons absorb bad vibes seems more fitting than ever.
The new Red Devils manager, who’s already said no to bringing a former player with him in January, believes in something bigger – that people and places can carry positive or negative energy. By keeping lemons nearby, he thinks they soak up the bad energy. At Spurs, he swapped out the lemons every ten days.
An LA Times article from June showed that Pochettino still follows this habit while leading the US team at the World Cup. “A bowl of lemons sits on a table in the conference room Mauricio Pochettino uses as an office at the U.S. men’s soccer team’s beachfront resort in Orange County,” it said. “He believes the lemons soak up negative energy. Nearby, a candle flickers.”
On the show The Overlap, he said it’s important to connect with nature, like lemons, and that it’s hard to succeed without doing so. He said, “You need to understand nature. I truly believe lemons help attract bad energy away.”
In 2026, Pochettino added candles with “therapeutic fragrances” to his routine. Superstitions like these have been part of sports for a long time – Rafael Nadal, for example, has a famous pre-serve routine.
For Pochettino, it’s less about routines and more about fruit bowls and scents, so Man United fans should be ready for some new quirks when he arrives.
Also, during the 2026 World Cup, it looked like he started a new tradition of wearing the same outfit and bracelet for every match. He wore a custom Hugo Boss overshirt and a red string bracelet during the US team’s group games.
If that’s his new lucky charm, Man United fans will probably get to know his favorite outfit soon! Back at Spurs, he had his players try some unusual things too, like walking on hot coals before a big Champions League final and snapping arrows on their necks. He even banned his wife from matches during a winning streak because she had missed some games earlier.
So, as Pochettino takes over at Old Trafford, fans might want to expect some interesting traditions and good vibes ahead.