Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most of their competitors, a sentiment voiced by captain Alex Greenwood during the pre‑season period. She remarked, “A true champion is someone who goes and wins again. A winner might be a one‑off, but a champion repeats success over and over.” This distinction between a fleeting winner and a sustained champion underpins the team’s approach as they embark on the new campaign.
Starting the season with consecutive victories – a feat no other side has managed so far – underscores Greenwood’s belief that there is a clear line separating mere winning from true championship pedigree. Becoming a champion, she argues, is a process that can only be completed by consistently backing up past achievements with fresh triumphs. After the first two rounds of matches, only one club sits atop the table with a perfect points tally – a scenario that has not occurred in the Women’s Super League since 2015. The defending champions have already positioned themselves as the team to beat, seizing the early momentum and treating the opening leg of the race like seasoned professionals.
Their early dominance has left their Manchester rivals in the dust. Greenwood herself has been a model of reliability under manager Andree Jeglertz. The beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how the sum of its parts creates a cohesive whole, bound by a single guiding maxim: “We always find a way.” In a conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old explained that her mindset for the season will be framed differently this time around. When asked whether the title‑defending status would make her complacent, Greenwood laughed and said, “I needed a mental switch‑off.
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.” Her summer hiatus brought several personal milestones, including an engagement to long‑term partner Jack.
She recounted the night of the proposal, admitting she initially tried to cancel their plans because she wasn’t in the mood to go out. Jack, however, had already paid a hefty deposit on a restaurant, kept his cool, and turned the evening into a memorable surprise. Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the break as a “necessary reset.” As captain, she constantly has “tabs open,” juggling her own high standards with the expectations of the squad – a never‑ending homework assignment, she joked.
She emphasized that she rarely shuts off completely, noting, “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.” Looking back at last season evokes fond memories.
City were the dominant force, leading the WSL from early November and securing their first league title in a decade. The football was freer and more inventive, guided by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than weighed down by it. Reinvention occurred across the pitch, from player to player and match to match.
Opponents often entered games unsure of what to expect, never quite able to predict City’s ever‑evolving patterns of play. Even on days when the performance was modest, the team usually got the job done. When questioned about pressure, Greenwood admitted, “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, with everything really.
We had setbacks but we also had a safety net. That is what we do – always find a way.” City now possess a brand of resilience that felt missing in previous title chases. The manager has not overhauled the squad but introduced subtle tweaks that yielded big results. Greenwood highlighted Jeglertz’s relentless pursuit of improvement, describing it as “never being satisfied,” an insatiable desire to refine every detail.
She added, “He’s very open to challenge. 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, that fuels us to want to remain that. But we have huge respect for the level of opposition we face.” Momentum is firmly on Manchester City’s side. The team has cultivated multiple solutions for most problems, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after a single poor result are behind them.
The new challenge is to maintain those high standards across every competition while also competing in Europe. “I live for European nights,” Greenwood confessed, expressing frustration at having to watch last season’s Champions League fixtures from her living room.
“Do you know how hard it is to watch those games and not be involved?” These concerns reach far beyond pre‑season speculation. How will City handle the increased demands of a congested schedule?
Can they adapt to a rhythm of three games a week? Does the squad have enough depth and quality to compete on every front? “We weren’t there last year and we have to use that feeling to our advantage.
We cannot waste our opportunity,” Greenwood asserted. After a decade of searching for the secret to sustained WSL success, the club now possesses the tools to stay at the top: a new £10 million training facility, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, a flood of WSL‑ready talent, a superb captain, and star forward Bunny Shaw – the PFA Player of the Year, already off to a flying start. In a Women’s Super League season where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, City’s resolve appears stronger than ever.
They refuse to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to be labelled merely winners. Their aim is to be recognised as true champions, a status they intend to defend with every match they play. Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday at 6.30 pm (kick‑off 7 pm).