Manchester City have announced their intentions with an unsettling level of confidence, a sentiment echoed early on by captain Alex Greenwood during pre‑season. She remarked, “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 frames the narrative for the new campaign.
Starting the season with two consecutive wins – a feat no other side has managed so far – underlines Greenwood’s belief that there is a clear line separating mere winners from genuine champions. Achieving champion status is a process, one that can only be completed by consistently backing up past successes with fresh triumphs. After the first two rounds of fixtures, only one team sits atop the table with a perfect points tally, something 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 momentum of the early race with the professionalism of seasoned campaigners. In doing so, they have left the red half of Manchester trailing far behind.
Greenwood herself has become a model of reliability under manager Andrée Jeglertz. The 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 conversation at the club’s training base, before any ball was even kicked, the 32‑year‑old explained that her mindset for the season would be framed differently this time.
“I needed a mental switch‑off,” she said. “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, most notably her engagement to long‑term partner Jack.
She recounted how she almost cancelled their plans on the evening of the proposal, not realizing what was about to happen. “If I’m being really honest, the day of, I tried to cancel plans,” Greenwood laughed.
“I wasn’t in the mood to go out. But Jack had paid a heavy deposit on the restaurant. He kept it cool, didn’t give much away, and it turned out to be amazing.” Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the break as a “necessary reset.” As captain, she constantly carries the weight of responsibility, keeping numerous mental “tabs open” and never fully disconnecting from the high standards she sets for herself and the squad.
It feels like an endless homework assignment. “I’m not the kind of person to turn it all off,” she 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 authority to make big calls.” Looking back at last season should evoke fond memories for City supporters. The team dominated the league, leading the WSL from early November and securing their first title in a decade.
Their football was freer, more inventive – guided by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than burdened by it. Reinvention was evident across the pitch, from player to player and match to match.
Opponents often entered games uncertain of what to expect, unable to predict the ever‑evolving patterns of City’s play. Even on days when the performance was modest, the squad usually found a way to secure the result.
When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained, “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 an edge – a brand of resilience that seemed missing in previous title chases despite coming close. The team did not require a wholesale overhaul; instead, Jeglertz introduced subtle adjustments that yielded significant outcomes.
Greenwood noted the manager’s relentless pursuit of improvement: “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 City’s side.
They have devised multiple solutions for a range of problems, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after an isolated slip are now behind them. The new challenge is to sustain these high standards across all competitions, including the demanding European stage. “I live for European nights,” Greenwood said, expressing frustration at having to watch last season’s Champions League matches 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 manage the increased workload? Can they adapt to 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 have to use that feeling to our advantage.
We cannot waste our opportunity,” Greenwood affirmed. After a decade of searching for the formula to become WSL champions, City now possess the tools required to stay at the summit: a new £10 million training facility, an inspirational manager with lofty targets, an influx of talent ready for top‑flight football, 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 will to win appears more resolute than ever.
They have no intention of being a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to be labeled merely winners. Their ambition is to be recognized as champions, season after season.
Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, kickoff at 7 pm.