Manchester City have announced their ambitions with a startling level of confidence, a sentiment voiced early in the pre‑season by captain Alex Greenwood. She reminded everyone that "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 a fleeting victory and sustained excellence is at the heart of City’s mindset as they embark on a new campaign.
Starting the season with two consecutive wins – the only side to achieve that feat so far – serves as concrete proof of Greenwood’s belief that there is a clear line separating a simple winner from a genuine champion. To become a champion is not a single event; it is a continuous process that can only be completed by consistently backing up every success with another. The early points tally reflects that ambition. After the first two rounds of matches, City sit alone atop the table with a perfect record, a situation that has not been seen in the Women’s Super League since 2015.
The defending champions have taken the baton and are leading the race with the poise of seasoned professionals, leaving their Manchester rivals in the dust. Greenwood herself has become a pillar of reliability under manager Andrée Jeglertz. The true beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how each individual component contributes to a cohesive whole, unified by a single guiding principle: "We always find a way." In a candid conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that she intends to approach this season with a fresh mental framework.
She dismissed the notion that being title‑holders would make her complacent, insisting instead that she needed a mental reset. "I needed a mental switch‑off," she said. "This summer I had freedom, no schedule, and that is 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 professionally but personally.
She became engaged to long‑term partner Jack during the summer, a milestone she almost missed due to a last‑minute change of plans. "If I’m being really honest, the day of the proposal I tried to cancel our plans," Greenwood laughed.
"I wasn’t in the mood to go out. But Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant. He kept his cool, didn’t give anything away, and the evening turned out to be amazing." Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the summer as a "necessary reset". As captain, she constantly has "tabs open" – a mental ledger of personal standards and team responsibilities that never fully shuts down.
She likened it to an endless homework assignment that demands constant attention. "I’m not the kind of person to turn it all off," Greenwood admitted.
"I’m on the majority 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 – we’re very close, it’s an open environment to speak.
I’m not the only one with the authority to make big calls." This openness and shared leadership have been instrumental in fostering the close‑knit culture that underpins City’s recent success. Reflecting on last season evokes fond memories for the squad. City were the dominant force, taking the WSL lead as early as November and ultimately clinching their first league title in a decade. The football they played was freer and more inventive, guided by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than constrained by it.
Reinvention occurred across the pitch: each player evolved, each match presented new tactical puzzles, and opponents often found themselves unsure how to counter City’s ever‑shifting patterns. Even on days when performances were not spectacular, the team still managed to secure the desired results.
When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that the team’s mindset helped mitigate it. "We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control last season.
That helped with preparation and everything else. We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net.
That is what we do – we always find a way," she said. The current squad possesses a brand of resilience that felt missing in previous title chases. It wasn’t about a wholesale overhaul; rather, subtle adjustments made by the manager produced significant outcomes.
Jeglertz’s approach is described as "never being satisfied," an insatiable drive to improve every minute 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 want to remain that. But we have huge respect for the level of opposition we face." This respect is matched by confidence, as City have already built multiple solutions for the problems they encounter on the field.
The days when a single poor result would raise doubts about their mental toughness are largely behind them. The new challenge lies in maintaining those high standards across all competitions, especially as they embark on a demanding European campaign. "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.
She wondered, "Do you know how hard it is to watch those games and not be involved?" These thoughts hint at the broader questions that extend far beyond pre‑season friendlies: How will City handle 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?
The answer appears to be a cautious optimism. City have spent a decade searching for the formula that turns a WSL contender into a consistent champion. Today they possess a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training facility, an inspirational manager with lofty goals, a pipeline of talent ready for top‑flight football, and a captain who leads by example. Adding to that is the presence 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 the biggest rivals, City’s resolve to win seems stronger than ever. They are not content to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to be labelled merely winners.
Their aim is to be recognised as champions – a title earned through relentless effort, strategic evolution, and a collective belief that they will always find a way to succeed. Fans can catch the next showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, with kick‑off scheduled for 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the club invites supporters to join the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million, with free entry for all participants.