Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most of their competitors, and captain Alex Greenwood made that clear during the pre‑season. She said, "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 Greenwood’s message.
Starting the new campaign with two consecutive wins – a feat no other side has managed so far – underscores her belief that there is a fundamental difference between merely winning a match and establishing a legacy of championship‑level performance. A champion, she argues, is forged through a process that demands continual validation of past achievements, not just a single triumphant moment.
After the first two rounds of fixtures, City sit alone atop the table with a perfect points tally, a situation that has not been seen in the Women’s Super League since 2015. The defending champions have seized the initiative, treating the opening phase of the race like seasoned professionals who understand the importance of momentum. In doing so, they have left the rest of Manchester – particularly the city’s traditional rivals – trailing in their wake. Greenwood herself has become a model of reliability under the guidance of manager Andrée Jeglertz.
The true elegance of this Manchester City side lies in how each individual component blends into a cohesive whole, driven by a single guiding principle: "We always find a way." This mantra reflects the collective mindset that every player, coach, and staff member shares. During a conversation at the club’s training base, before the first ball was even kicked, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mental approach to the season would be different this time around. She dismissed any notion that being title‑holders would allow her to become complacent.
"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." The summer break proved transformative for Greenwood in more ways than one.
She became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack, a milestone that added a personal highlight to an otherwise football‑focused hiatus. She admitted that on the night of the proposal she almost cancelled their plans, not feeling in the mood to go out. Jack, however, had already paid a hefty deposit on a restaurant and kept the surprise under wraps, turning the evening into a memorable celebration. Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the summer as a "necessary reset." As captain, she constantly juggles multiple responsibilities, with her mind never truly able to switch off from the high standards she sets for herself and the team.
She likened it to an endless homework assignment that never truly ends. "I’m not the kind of person to turn it all off; 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," she explained. Looking back at last season evokes a sense of pride. City dominated the league from early November, eventually clinching their first title in a decade.
Their football was liberated and inventive, guided more by Jeglertz’s philosophy than by any oppressive pressure. The squad reinvented itself on multiple levels – from individual player roles to overall tactical approaches – making it difficult for opponents to predict what would come next.
Even on days when the performance was not spectacular, the team still managed to secure the necessary results. When asked about pressure, Greenwood admitted that certain outcomes from the previous campaign had created moments of heightened expectation. "We don’t enjoy losing. In reality, we were in control, and that helps with preparation.
We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net. That is what we do – always find a way," she said.
City now possess a brand of resilience that seemed missing in earlier title pursuits. The manager’s subtle tweaks have yielded significant results, and Jeglertz describes the squad’s mindset as "never being satisfied" – an insatiable drive to improve every detail. Greenwood 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." The momentum is firmly on Manchester City’s side. They have developed multiple solutions for most problems they encounter, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after a single slip‑up are now behind them.
The new challenge is to maintain those high standards across every competition, especially as they juggle domestic fixtures with European commitments. "I live for European nights," Greenwood confessed, expressing frustration at having to watch last season’s Champions League matches from her living room rather than being on the pitch. "Do you know how hard it is to watch those games and not be involved?" These concerns reach far beyond pre‑season banter.
The real questions are: How will City handle the increased workload? Can they adapt to a relentless schedule of three games a week?
Does the squad have enough depth and quality to compete on all fronts? "We weren’t there last year and we have to use that feeling to our advantage. We cannot waste our opportunity," Greenwood asserted.
Over the past decade, City have invested heavily in the infrastructure needed to become a lasting WSL powerhouse. A state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an ambitious manager with clear targets, a flood of talent ready for top‑flight football, and a captain who embodies the team’s ethos all combine to create a formidable foundation. Adding to that is the presence of Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who has already made an impact. In a league where consistency has already hampered the biggest challengers, Manchester City’s resolve to win appears stronger than ever.
They refuse to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to be labeled merely as winners. Their ambition is to be recognised as champions – a status earned through relentless effort, adaptability, and a never‑ending pursuit of excellence. Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, kick‑off at 7 pm.
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