Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most competitors, a sentiment echoed by captain Alex Greenwood during pre‑season. She warned, "A true champion is someone who goes and wins again.
A winner might be a one‑off. But a champion does it over and over." This distinction between fleeting triumph and sustained dominance frames the narrative for the club as they embark on a new campaign.
Starting the season with two consecutive victories – a feat no other side has managed so early – underscores Greenwood's belief that there is a clear line separating a mere winner from a genuine champion. Achieving champion status is a continuous process that demands relentless consistency, not just isolated success. After the opening two rounds, City sit alone atop the table with a perfect points tally, a situation not witnessed in the Women's Super League since 2015. The defending champions appear to be the benchmark, seizing the initiative and approaching the early stages of the race with the poise of seasoned professionals.
Their early dominance has left their Manchester rivals in the dust. Greenwood has been a model of reliability under manager Andrée Jeglertz.
The true beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how every individual component blends into a cohesive whole, guided by a single mantra: "We always find a way." In a pre‑match chat at the club's training base, the 32‑year‑old explained that her mindset for the season would be different this time around. "Because we are title‑holders, I could have been complacent," she admitted, "but that’s not the case. I needed a mental switch‑off." She described a summer free of schedules and obligations, which left her feeling refreshed.
"I can’t recall the last time I had such a long break, and I truly enjoyed it," Greenwood said. Her summer break also brought personal milestones. She became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack, despite initially trying to cancel their celebration plans on the night of the proposal.
"Honestly, I tried to cancel because I wasn’t in the mood to go out," she laughed. "Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant, kept everything cool, and the evening turned out amazing." Beyond the romance, Greenwood called the summer a "necessary reset." As captain, she constantly juggles multiple responsibilities, never fully switching off from the high standards she sets for herself and the squad. "I’m not the type to turn everything off; I’m on most of the time. I reflect a lot.
I needed a break because a captain’s role extends beyond the pitch. Luckily, our dressing‑room environment is open and supportive, so I’m not the only one making big decisions." Reflecting on last season evokes proud memories. City dominated the league, taking the WSL lead as early as November and ultimately clinching their first title in a decade. Their football was liberated and inventive, shaped by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than weighed down by it.
The team reinvented itself across matches, with each player contributing to an ever‑evolving style that left opponents uncertain about what to expect. When asked about pressure, Greenwood noted, "We get asked a lot about pressure, and certain results last season created pressure moments. We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control. That control aids our preparation.
We faced setbacks, yet we always had a safety net. That’s why we always find a way." City now possess a brand of resilience that seemed missing in previous title pursuits. The manager’s subtle tweaks have yielded significant outcomes.
Jeglertz describes the approach as "never being satisfied," an insatiable drive to refine every detail. Greenwood added, "He welcomes challenges. He wants us to challenge him and each other.
The league is fiercely competitive; teams have strengthened dramatically this summer, which I love. We remind each other that we are winners, and that fuels our desire to stay that way.
We also have immense respect for the quality of our opposition." Momentum is firmly on City’s side. They have developed multiple solutions for a range of tactical problems, and the era when a single poor result could cast doubt on their mental toughness appears behind them.
The new challenge is maintaining those high standards across all competitions, especially as they re‑enter European contests. "I live for European nights," Greenwood confessed, expressing frustration at having to watch last season’s Champions League from her living room.
"It’s tough watching those games and not being on the pitch." These concerns reach far beyond pre‑season speculation. How will City manage the increased workload? Can they sustain a rhythm of three games per week? Does the squad have enough depth and quality to compete on every front?
"We weren’t there last year, and we must use that feeling to our advantage. We cannot waste this opportunity," Greenwood asserted. After a decade of chasing the secret to WSL supremacy, City now possess the tools to stay at the summit: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, a influx of talent ready for top‑flight football, and a captain who embodies leadership.
Adding to that is the brilliance of Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who has already started the season with a bang. In a league where consistency has already hampered their main rivals, City’s resolve appears stronger than ever. They are not aiming to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to settle for merely being winners.
Their ambition is to be recognised as champions, season after season. Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, kick‑off at 7 pm.