Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most of their competitors, a message first delivered by captain Alex Greenwood during the pre‑season. "A true champion is someone who goes and wins again.
A winner might be one‑off. But a champion does it over and over," she said, drawing a clear line between fleeting success and sustained dominance. Starting the new campaign with two consecutive victories – a feat no other side has managed so far – underlines Greenwood's belief that there is a substantive difference between being a winner and being a champion. Achieving champion status is not a single event; it is a continuous process that demands the team to consistently back up every achievement with another.
So far, City are the only team with a perfect points tally after the first two rounds of the season, 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 confidence of seasoned professionals, leaving the rest of Manchester, particularly the city’s red side, far behind. Greenwood has become a model of reliability under manager Andrée Jeglertz. The true beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how each individual component blends to form a cohesive whole, guided by a single mantra: "We always find a way." In a conversation at the club’s training base, before any ball was even kicked, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mindset for the season would be approached differently this time around.
"Because we are the title‑holders, I could have been presumptuous and rested on our laurels," she admitted, "but that’s not the case. I needed a mental switch‑off. This summer I had complete freedom – no training schedule, no travel, just a break – and that is why I feel so refreshed now. I can’t remember the last time I got a break that long, so I definitely enjoyed it." Her summer off‑season was marked by personal milestones as well.
Greenwood became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack, a moment that almost didn’t happen because she tried to cancel the plans for the evening of the proposal. "If I’m being honest, the day of I tried to cancel," she laughed, "I wasn’t in the mood to go out. But Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant, kept everything cool, and it turned out to be amazing." Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the hiatus as a "necessary reset." As captain, she constantly has "tabs open" – the weight of her own high standards and the expectations of the squad never truly switch off, much like an endless homework assignment.
"I’m not the type of person who can turn everything off; I’m thinking about the team most of the time. I reflect a lot. I needed that break because a captain has a huge role off the pitch as well.
Fortunately, we have a close‑knit dressing‑room, an open environment where we can speak freely. I’m not the only one with the authority to make big decisions." Reflecting on last season evokes fond memories for the players. City dominated the league, taking the WSL lead as early as November and ultimately clinching their first title in a decade.
The football was freer, more inventive, guided by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than feeling constrained by it. Reinvention was evident across the pitch – from individual players to the collective tactical approach. Opponents often entered matches unsure of what to expect, as City’s patterns of play were constantly evolving.
Even on days when the performance seemed ordinary, the team usually managed to secure the three points. When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that certain results from the previous campaign created pressure moments, but the team’s control over games mitigated that stress. "We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control most of the time.
That helps with preparation and everything else. We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net.
That’s what we do – we always find a way," she said. City now possess a brand of resilience that felt missing in earlier title bids. The manager has not overhauled the squad but has introduced subtle tweaks that yielded significant results. Jeglertz describes his approach as "never being satisfied," a relentless drive to improve every detail.
Greenwood echoed this sentiment: "He’s very open to challenge. He invites us to challenge him and each other. It’s a competitive league; teams have strengthened a lot this summer, and I love that. We remind each other that we are winners, and that fuels our desire to stay that way.
We also have huge respect for the level of opposition we face." Momentum is firmly on City’s side. They have devised multiple solutions for a range of problems, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after a single slip‑up are behind them.
The new challenge is to maintain those high standards across all competitions, especially as they embark on a demanding European campaign. "I live for European nights," Greenwood confessed, noting the frustration of watching last season’s Champions League matches from her living room.
"It’s hard to watch those games and not be involved." These considerations extend far beyond pre‑season chatter. How will City cope with the increased workload? Can they adapt to a relentless 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 this opportunity," Greenwood asserted. After a decade of chasing the secret to becoming WSL champions, City now have everything they need: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training facility, an inspirational manager with lofty ambitions, a flood of WSL‑ready talent, a superb captain, and star forward Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who is 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 are not content with being a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to be labeled merely winners.
Their aim is to be recognized as champions – a title earned through relentless effort, strategic evolution, and the unwavering belief that they will always find a way to succeed.