Rickie Lambert warns Man Utd players about Pochettino’s running

Manchester United’s players have been warned what is coming. Rickie Lambert says that when he asked Mauricio Pochettino to ease off the running at Southampton, the manager doubled it the following week.

Lambert and Toby Alderweireld both played for the Argentine. They have told talkSPORT what to expect at Old Trafford, and a fitness drive is top of the list.

Rickie Lambert’s warning to the United dressing room

Lambert played under Pochettino at Southampton from January 2013 to the end of the 2013-14 season. He described the Monday running sessions after weekend matches, and how badly he struggled with them.

“It was 12 horseshoes in 45 seconds. Now, most of the lads can do that easily. I couldn’t. I really struggled doing that, especially after playing a full game.”

He went to see the manager with team-mate Jos Hooiveld and asked him to calm it down a little.

“He was so reassuring; he made me feel like he was really listening to me. And then he went, ‘OK, I understand.’ The next Monday, we’ve done 24 runs!”

Lambert has told this story before. Back in 2017, he said Pochettino was trying to break him. This time he presents it as a test for the whole squad. He says the players could have turned away from the manager or got behind him, and that they got behind him and improved massively as a result.

“The dressing room will have the ultimate say. And if they go with him, they’ll turn that club around. I honestly believe that.”

Alderweireld: ‘He will make players fit’

Alderweireld was at the heart of Pochettino’s Tottenham defence. Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, he was blunt about the standard United’s players will face.

“He will make players fit. That’s for sure. Second of all, he brings intensity.”

The Belgian said the demands go well beyond the training pitch. Food, gym work and everything else will have to be done the manager’s way.

He also believes Pochettino can fix what has been missing. “In the past couple of transfer windows, they bought good players, good quality, but they miss some chemistry; they miss the intensity,” he said.

Why United’s running numbers matter

According to Opta figures quoted by talkSPORT, United rank 19th in the Premier League for distance covered this season. They have run 1,125.1km in total, ahead of only Liverpool, and they sit 14th for sprints.

The warning signs were already there in September. Sky Sports reported that United had been outrun by four of their first five league opponents, with ten-man Manchester City the exception.

Distance alone does not prove a lack of effort or fitness, though. talkSPORT also reports that Liverpool rank lowest for distance covered but highest for sprints.

United’s best running display under Michael Carrick in 2026 came in his last game in charge, according to talkSPORT. They covered 120.8km in the 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, needed two stoppage-time goals to rescue a point, and stayed in the relegation zone over the international break.

For a squad that has cost so much, those numbers are hard to ignore. Pochettino’s first job may be the simplest one: get them running.

Anfield first for Pochettino at Man Utd

Pochettino’s final USA match is against Haiti on Tuesday 17 November local time, with kick-off at midnight UK time on Wednesday 18 November. talkSPORT puts the compensation at around $12m, while The Athletic has reported a $10m release clause plus further payments for his staff. We covered the deal in our report on Pochettino’s Man Utd appointment, and when he starts.

His first game could hardly be bigger. United go to Anfield on Sunday 22 November, with kick-off at 4.30pm.

FAQ

What did Rickie Lambert say about Pochettino?
Lambert said that when he asked Pochettino to ease off the Monday running at Southampton, the manager doubled it from 12 runs to 24 the following week.

When is Pochettino’s first Man Utd game?
Liverpool vs Man Utd at Anfield on Sunday 22 November, kick-off 4.30pm.

Where do Man Utd rank for distance covered?
According to Opta figures quoted by talkSPORT, United are 19th in the Premier League for distance covered, ahead of only Liverpool, and 14th for sprints.