Man United required to make change to Mauricio Pochettino's office upon arrival
Manchester United will have to provide Mauricio Pochettino with an entire bowl of lemons for his office, to absorb ‘negative energy’ and continue the Argentine’s tradition.
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss revealed this superstition of his – keeping a full bowl of lemons in his office, and replacing them every ten days – during his time in London.
It was confirmed this year that the Argentine’s tradition had continued with the USMNT. At his new gig, Pochettino’s belief in negative energy-absorbing lemons has never been more apt.
READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino instantly rejects bringing former player to Man Utd as January plans emerge
Why does Mauricio Pochettino keep a full bowl of lemons in his office?
The new Red Devils boss, who has already rejected bringing a former player to Old Trafford ahead of the January window, believes in universal energy, and the idea that people and places are capable of carrying negative or positive forms.
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By keeping a full bowl of lemons in his office, Pochettino believes the fruit will soak up any negative energy - at Spurs, it required being replaced every ten days.
In an LA Times feature from June of this year, written as the Argentine was leading his USA squad through the World Cup, the tradition was confirmed to still be in effect.
“A bowl of lemons sits on a table in the conference room Mauricio Pochettino has turned into an office at the U.S. men’s soccer team’s beachfront resort in south Orange County,” it read.
“The citrus fruit, the coach believes, has the spiritual ability to absorb negative energy. On the corner of another table, the flame from a candle flickers.”
In an appearance on The Overlap, he claimed that nature - in this case, lemons - needs to be connected with, and that “it’s difficult” to succeed in life without doing so.
“You need to understand nature. It’s all around us. I think, for me, 100% - I really believe [lemons] have an effect in attracting the bad energy,” claimed Pochettino.
In 2026, the Argentine’s superstitions transcended his lemons – which he admitted took two years to take effect with Tottenham – and forayed into candles, to create "therapeutic fragrances.”
Following traditions to maximise the chances of sporting success has long been observed: Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players ever, abided by a famously taxing pre-serve routine.
For Pochettino, it’s less meticulous headband adjusting and more fruit bowls and scents, but Manchester United may have to put up with further quirks when he lands at Old Trafford.
READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino instantly bans Man Utd tradition every other manager has followed for a decade
Does Mauricio Pochettino have any other quirks?
During the 2026 World Cup, it was suspected that Pochettino had developed a new tradition: wearing the same outfit and accompanying bracelet in each match.
The Argentine, who has already banned a long-term United tradition before even stepping through the door, donned a custom-made Hugo Boss overshirt and a red string or cord bracelet for all of the USMNT’s group-stage games in North America.
If that was indeed a new tradition, then Manchester United fans should expect to have ‘Poch’s lucky outfit’ revealed to them in due time.
During his Spurs career, he had his players walk on hot coals before their Champions League final clash with Liverpool, and attempt to snap arrows on their necks.
And in a winning run at the Lane, he also banned his wife, Karina, from attending matches, as she had been absent during a string of victories.
Topics: Mauricio Pochettino, Premier League, Football News
Kedar Bayley
