Manchester City have announced their ambitions far earlier than most of their competitors, and captain Alex Greenwood made that crystal clear during pre‑season. She said, "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 simple distinction sets the tone for the club’s approach this year: they are not merely aiming to win matches, they are intent on establishing a sustained legacy of success.
Starting the campaign with two consecutive victories – a feat no other side has managed so far – underscores Greenwood’s belief that there is a tangible difference between being a winner and being a champion. A champion, she argues, is forged through a process that requires constant validation of past achievements, not a single flash of brilliance.
The fact that Manchester City sit alone atop the table after the first two rounds, something that has not occurred in the Women’s Super League since 2015, illustrates how the defending champions are already positioning themselves as the team to beat. Their early dominance has left their Manchester rivals in the dust and sent a clear message to the rest of the league. Greenwood has been a model of consistency under manager Andree Jeglertz.
The true beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how each individual component blends into a cohesive whole, guided by a single mantra: "We always find a way." In a conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mindset for the new season would be different from the previous one. She dismissed the notion that being title‑holders would automatically grant them an easy path, insisting instead that a mental reset was essential. "I needed a mental switch‑off," Greenwood 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 off, so I definitely enjoyed it." The break proved transformative. During that period she also got engaged to her long‑time partner Jack, an event that added a personal milestone to her professional preparation. She recalled the night of the proposal with a smile, admitting that she initially tried to cancel their plans because she wasn’t in the mood for a celebration. Jack, however, had already paid a hefty deposit on a restaurant and kept the surprise under wraps, turning the evening into a memorable occasion.
Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the summer as a "necessary reset." As captain, she feels a constant pressure – a mental ledger that never fully closes – because she must uphold her own high standards as well as those of the squad. "I’m not the kind of person to turn it all off," she admitted. "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 for Greenwood and her teammates. City were the dominant force, leading the WSL from early November and ultimately clinching their first league title in a decade. Under Jeglertz’s philosophy, the football was freer and more inventive, allowing players to express themselves without feeling shackled by rigid tactics.
The team reinvented itself game after game, with each player adding a new layer to an ever‑evolving style of play. Opponents often found themselves unsure of what to expect, as City’s patterns shifted constantly, yet the squad almost always delivered the desired result. When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that the setbacks of the previous season actually built a safety net.
"We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control," she said. "That helps with preparation. We had setbacks but we also had a safety net. That is what we do – always find a way." This season, City possess a brand of tenacity that felt missing in earlier title pursuits.
The manager has not overhauled the squad but has introduced subtle tweaks that have produced significant outcomes. Jeglertz describes his approach as "never being satisfied," a relentless pursuit of improvement down to the smallest detail.
Greenwood echoed this sentiment, noting that Jeglertz welcomes challenges and encourages the players to question him as well as each other. "It’s such a competitive league," she said. "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 City’s side. The team has developed multiple solutions for a wide range of problems, and the days when their mental toughness was doubted after a single poor result are largely behind them.
The new challenge is to maintain these high standards across all competitions, especially as they venture deeper into European fixtures. Greenwood confessed a personal frustration from last season when she could only watch the Champions League from her living room. "I live for European nights," she said, emphasizing how much she craves being on the pitch during those high‑stakes matches.
These considerations raise broader questions that go beyond pre‑season chatter: How will City handle the increased workload of three games a week? Does the squad have enough depth and quality to compete on every front? Greenwood believes the experience of missing out last year can be turned into a competitive edge.
"We cannot waste our opportunity," she warned. Manchester City have spent a decade searching for the formula that turns a WSL contender into a consistent champion. Today they possess the ingredients: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, a roster filled with players ready for top‑flight football, and a captain who embodies the club’s ethos. 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 their biggest rivals, City’s resolve appears stronger than ever. They are not content to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to settle for merely being winners.
Their aim is to be recognized as true champions – a status earned through relentless effort, adaptability, and a willingness to evolve season after season. Fans can catch Manchester City take on Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm.
The club also invites supporters to participate in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million, with entry available for free.