Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most of their competitors, and captain Alex Greenwood made that 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 distinction between a fleeting victory and sustained excellence lies 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 tangible gap between merely winning a match and embodying the qualities of a champion. A champion, she argues, is forged through a process that demands consistency, resilience, and the habit of backing up every success with another. In practical terms, that means delivering results week after week, not just on the occasional bright night. After the opening two rounds of fixtures, City sit alone atop the table with a perfect points tally, a situation that has not occurred in the Women's Super League since 2015.
The defending champions have taken the lead in the race with the confidence of seasoned professionals, leaving their Manchester rivals in the dust and signalling that they intend to retain the crown. Greenwood has become a model of reliability under manager Andree Jeglertz.
The true beauty of this Manchester City side, according to many observers, is that the collective sum of its parts creates a cohesive whole. The team operates under a single guiding mantra: "We always find a way." This philosophy is evident in every training session, tactical meeting and matchday performance. In a candid conversation at the club's training base, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mindset for the season will be different this time around. She rejected the notion that being title‑holders automatically grants a psychological edge.
"I needed a mental switch‑off," she 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 summer break proved transformative for Greenwood in more ways than one. She became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack, a milestone she almost missed because she tried to cancel their original plans on the night of the proposal.
"If I'm being really honest, the day of, I tried to cancel plans," she laughed. "I wasn't in the mood to go out.
But Jack had paid a heavy deposit on the restaurant, kept everything low‑key, and it turned out to be amazing." Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the off‑season as a "necessary reset". As captain, she constantly feels the weight of responsibility, with countless mental "tabs" open that prevent her from fully disengaging from the pressures of high standards and team expectations. "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." Reflecting on last season brings back memories of dominance.
City took the WSL lead as early as November and captured their first league title in a decade. Under Jeglertz, the football was liberated and inventive, guided by a philosophy that encouraged creativity rather than imposing rigid constraints.
The team reinvented itself constantly – from individual players to overall tactical patterns – leaving opponents uncertain about what to expect. Even on nights when the performance was not spectacular, the side usually managed to secure the necessary points. When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that the setbacks they experienced last 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's what we do – always find a way." City now possess a brand of determination that felt missing in earlier title chases. The manager did not overhaul the squad; instead, he introduced subtle tweaks that produced significant outcomes.
Greenwood highlighted Jeglertz'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 Manchester City's side.
The squad has developed multiple solutions for a wide range of problems, eliminating the mental fragility that once surfaced after an unexpected loss. The new challenge is to sustain those high standards across every competition, especially as the club now competes on the European stage as well.
"I live for European nights," Greenwood confessed, 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?" Her words underline the ambition to not only dominate domestically but also to make a serious impact in Europe.
These considerations reach far beyond pre‑season banter. Questions arise: How will City manage the increased workload of three games a week?
Does the squad have enough depth and quality to compete on multiple fronts without sacrificing performance? Greenwood believes the answer lies in learning from the previous season's shortcomings.
"We weren't there last year and we have to use that feeling to our advantage. We cannot waste our opportunity," she asserted. Over the past decade, City have invested heavily to unlock the secret of becoming a consistent WSL champion.
The club now boasts a £10 million state‑of‑the‑art training facility, a visionary manager with clear targets, and a pipeline of talent ready for top‑flight football. Adding to that arsenal is the inspirational captain Greenwood herself, and star forward Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who has already started the season strongly. In a league where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, Manchester City's resolve appears stronger than ever. They refuse to be a one‑hit wonder; the work put in during the off‑season and the mindset of constant improvement aim to cement their status as true champions rather than fleeting winners.
The club's supporters can look forward to a season where the mantra "we always find a way" is not just a slogan but a lived reality. Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday at 6.30 pm (kick‑off 7 pm).