It’s the weekend. Go touch grass.

Welcome to the Weekend Special of the The Free Transfer— the 5 minute daily football newsletter, filling you in on what’s important.

Some nostalgia and manager talk before today’s matches:

• FLASHBACK: City win their first Premier League title on the last kick of the season 🤯🏆️ 

• Nagelsmann out of the running for Spurs job 🐓 🚫 

  • How it went down 😬 

  • Who are the remaining candidates? 🔍️ 

FLASHBACK: AGUEROOOOOOO! 🤯 🔵 ⚪️ 

May 13, 2012:

Manchester City win their first Premier League title in dramatic fashion over inter-city rivals Manchester United on the final day.

How it happened

The stakes

• City entered the final day level on points with Manchester United, but ahead on goal difference

• QPR were visiting City, only needing a draw to secure safety from relegation

• Manchester United were playing away to Sunderland

The first half

• GOAL: Wayne Rooney scored to make it 1-0 for United in the 20’

• GOAL: Pablo Zabaleta scored to make it 1-0 for City in the 39’

Halftime

• City were in the lead on goal difference over United

The second half begins

• Things start to get spicy in the City vs. QPR match

  • GOAL: Djibril Cissé makes it 1-1, and putting City in 2nd place!

  • RED CARD: Joey Barton gets himself sent off (shocker)

  • GOAL: Jamie Mackie puts QPR AHEAD at the Etihad!

The stakes: revisited

• With United winning and City losing, the table is as follows:

  • 1st: United—89 pts

  • 2nd: City— 86 pts

• If City can match United’s result (lose, draw, or win) then they will win the title on goal difference

And the rest… was history

• FULL TIME: United win 1-0 at the Stadium of Light

  • At this point, a City draw or loss wins the title for United

  • It was currently City 1-2 QPR in the 90’

• 💥GOAL: Edin Džeko scores from a corner to make it 2-2 in the 92’!💥 

• Stoppage time continues.

• Manchester City needed a goal and a hero to win the title

  • I’ll let you watch what happened next 🦸 ⤵️

Martin Tyler’s call for the City vs. QPR game is the most iconic in Premier League history. We will never forget his “AGUEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOO!”

This was the first of many Premier League titles for City, and their comeback win on the final day of last season was reminiscent of 2012 but simply not the same. 

NAGELSMANN OUT OF THE RACE TO BE SPURS MANAGER 🐓 🚫 

The search for Antonio Conte’s replacement continues. Nagelsmann, thought to be the favorite for Chelsea until he pulled out of the race, was a favorite to become Spurs’ new manager. Without the clarity he was looking for in a sporting director, he’s out ⤵️ 

Who will Spurs’ next manager be?

Thomas Tuchel

• After Spurs’ springtime slide under Conte, & reports from Fabrizio Romano that Tuchel would be interested in the Spurs job, fans were over the moon

• March 24: Out of nowhere, Bayern sacked Nagelsmann mid-March

• March 25: …and immediately appoint Tuchel

Nagelsmann & Pochettino

• Former Spurs manager Pochettino, & the now-available Nagelsmann are heavily linked to replace a floundering Conte

• March 26: Conte is sacked the day after Bayern appointed Tuchel

  • It seemed Levy had gotten it all wrong with Tuchel, but Nagelsmann was still available along with Pochettino

• Levy would have to be quick, as the manager market is fast-paced one

• April 3: Graham Potter is sacked from Chelsea; Chelsea immediately linked to Nagelsmann— it seems Levy has dropped the ball again

• April 21: Nagelsmann dropped out of the race to be Chelsea’s new manager, Pochettino will become their new manager— per Fabrizio Romano

• Spurs now have a free run at Nagelsmann. Weeks go by with poor results from interim manager Ryan Mason

• May 13: Nagelsmann withdraws from race to become new Spurs manager due to lack of clarity over Spurs’ new sporting director

• Collective sigh from Spurs fanbase

Who does that leave?

• Graham Potter— the promising manager was on the up at Brighton, before falling flat in his 6-month stint at Chelsea

• Luis Enrique— initial talks with the former Barcelona manager “did not progress” (Fabrizio Romano), but maybe Levy will circle back

• Ryan Mason— the interim manager knows the club and Levy well, but having only picked up 6 points in 7 matches at the helm, that seems unlikely

• Roberto Di Zerbi— off to a flying start at Brighton, he likely won’t make the same mistake Potter did just 6 months ago

• Vincent Kompany— just signed a new deal at Burnley after their promotion, so does not appear to be realistic

Gaffer’s Bet— Spurs hire Graham Potter

That’s all for today!

See you tomorrow for another weekend edition 🗞️ 

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