Manchester City have announced their ambitions far earlier than most rivals, a message first voiced by captain Alex Greenwood during the preseason. She warned, "A true champion is someone who goes and wins again. A winner might be one‑off, but a champion does it over and over." This distinction between a fleeting victor and a sustained champion underpins the tone of City’s new campaign.
Starting the season with two consecutive victories – a feat no other side has managed so far – reinforces Greenwood’s belief that there is a measurable gap between simply winning a match and establishing a legacy of dominance. The journey to becoming a champion is not a single event but a continuous process of improvement, where each success must be backed up by the next. After the opening two rounds, Manchester City sit alone at the summit of the Women's Super League, holding the maximum points possible. This scenario has not occurred since 2015, highlighting how quickly the defending champions have re‑asserted themselves as the team to beat.
Their early momentum suggests they have taken the baton from their Manchester rivals and are sprinting ahead with the confidence of seasoned professionals. Greenwood has been a model of consistency under manager Anders Jeglertz.
The true beauty of this City side lies in how every individual contribution blends into a cohesive whole, guided by a single mantra: "We always find a way." In a candid conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mindset for the new season would be deliberately different. She dismissed any notion that being title‑holders would make the campaign easier, insisting that the pressure to maintain standards remains as intense as ever. "I needed a mental switch‑off," she said. "This summer I had freedom, no schedule, and that’s why I feel so fresh now.
I can’t remember the last time I got that long a break, so I definitely enjoyed it." The period of rest proved transformative for Greenwood, not only because she became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack, but also because it offered a chance to reset mentally after a demanding previous season. She recounted the evening of the proposal with humour: "If I’m being really honest, the day of I tried to cancel plans.
I wasn’t in the mood to go out, but Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant. He kept it cool, didn’t give much away, and it turned out amazing." Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the summer as a "necessary reset". As captain, she constantly juggles multiple responsibilities, never fully switching off from the high expectations she sets for herself and her teammates. It can feel like an endless homework assignment, she admitted.
"I’m not the type of person who can turn everything off; I’m on most of the time. I reflect a lot.
I needed a break because a captain has a huge role off the pitch. But I’m lucky with the dressing‑room we have – it’s an open environment where we can speak freely. I’m not the only one with the authority to make big calls," Greenwood explained. Looking back at last season evokes pride.
City dominated the league from early November, eventually clinching their first title in a decade. Under Jeglertz, the football was liberated and inventive, guided by his philosophy rather than weighed down by it. The squad reinvented itself across every match, with each player adapting to new tactical nuances.
Opponents often entered games unsure of what to expect, never quite able to predict City’s evolving patterns. Even on days when the performance seemed ordinary, the team still managed to secure the desired result.
When asked about pressure, Greenwood said, "I get asked a lot about pressure, and certain results created pressure moments last season. We don’t enjoy losing. But in reality, we were in control. That helps with preparation and everything else.
We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net. That is what we do – always find a way." The current squad now possesses a brand of resilience that felt missing in earlier title pursuits. The manager’s subtle adjustments have yielded significant outcomes, and Jeglertz describes this as a relentless pursuit of perfection – an unappeasable desire to improve every detail.
"He’s very open to challenge," Greenwood added. "He invites it.
He wants us to challenge him and each other. It’s such a competitive league. Teams have strengthened so much this summer, I love it. We remind each other we are winners, and that fuels us to stay that way.
But we have huge respect for the level of opposition we face." This respect fuels their ambition to stay ahead. City’s momentum is evident. They have developed multiple solutions for the typical problems that arise over a season, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after an unexpected loss seem far behind them.
The new challenge is to maintain these high standards across all competitions, especially as they re‑enter European play. "I live for European nights," Greenwood confessed, referencing the frustration of watching last season’s Champions League from her living room rather than being on the pitch. "Do you know how hard it is to watch those games and not be involved?" This sentiment underscores the broader questions the club now faces: How will City handle the increased demands of a congested schedule?
Can they sustain performance with three games a week? Does the squad have sufficient depth to compete on every front?
"We weren’t there last year and we have to use that feeling to our advantage," Greenwood insisted. "We cannot waste our opportunity." After a decade of chasing the elusive formula for WSL success, City now have the tools to stay at the summit: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with lofty targets, a wave of new talent ready for top‑flight football, and star forward Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, already in scintillating form.
In a league where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, Manchester City’s resolve appears stronger than ever. They refuse to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to settle for merely being winners. Their aim is to be recognised as genuine champions, a status they intend to defend with relentless dedication throughout the season.