Editor’s​​​ note:​​​ This​​​ is​​​ Superstition Week​​​ on The Athletic​​​ Soccer. We’ll​​​ be​​​ exploring​​​ the far-out​​​ rituals and​​​ beliefs​​​ that​​​​​​ underpin the X’s and O’s, the hard work and dumb luck, of some of soccer’s most compelling teams and personalities. Check here for our full roster of stories and check back as we add more.



Stefan Frei prefers “routine” to “superstition.” The latter word feels a little bit too peculiar for what the Seattle Sounders goalkeeper considers standard practice.



“It’s the same reason why we train: We train so that we can recall those moments later in games and they give you comfort,” Frei...