Manchester City have announced their intentions 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 distinction between a fleeting victor and a genuine champion underpins the tone of City’s new campaign.
Starting the season with two consecutive wins – a feat no other side has managed so far – underscores Greenwood’s belief that there is a meaningful gap between simply winning a match and building a lasting championship pedigree. A champion, she argues, is forged through a sustained process, one that can only be completed by repeatedly backing up earlier successes. Only one team currently sits atop the table with a perfect points tally after the opening two rounds, a scenario that has not been seen in the Women’s Super League since 2015.
The defending champions appear to have seized the initiative, taking the metaphorical baton and attacking the early stages of the title race with the poise of seasoned professionals. In doing so, they have left the rest of Manchester – particularly the city’s red‑shirted rivals – trailing in their wake. Greenwood herself has become a model of reliability under the guidance of manager Andrée Jeglertz. The true beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how each individual component blends together to form a cohesive whole, all driven by a single mantra: "We always find a way." In a candid conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mindset for the new season would be approached differently this time around.
"Because you’re the title‑holders, I assumed we’d be complacent," she laughed, before correcting the notion. "I needed a mental switch‑off.
This summer I had complete freedom – no schedule, no obligations – and that reset is why I feel so refreshed now. I can’t recall the last time I had such a long break, and I truly enjoyed it." Her summer hiatus brought more than rest; it also brought personal milestones.
Greenwood became engaged to her long‑time partner Jack, an event that almost didn’t happen because she tried to cancel their original plans on the night of the proposal. "I was honestly not in the mood to go out," she recalled with a smile. "Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant, kept his cool, and the surprise turned out to be amazing." Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the off‑season as a "necessary reset." As captain, she constantly has "tabs open" – an endless stream of responsibilities and high standards that make it difficult to fully disconnect, akin to a never‑ending homework assignment. "I’m not the type to switch everything off; I’m on most of the time.
I reflect a lot. I needed a break because a captain’s role extends far beyond the pitch. Thankfully, we have an incredibly close dressing‑room environment where we can speak openly.
I’m not the only one with authority to make big decisions." Reflecting on the previous campaign evokes fond memories. City dominated the league from early November, ultimately clinching their first title in a decade.
The football was liberated and inventive, guided more by Jeglertz’s philosophy than by pressure. Throughout the season, the team reinvented itself – player to player, match to match – leaving opponents uncertain about what to expect. Even on days when the performance was not spectacular, the squad almost always delivered the necessary result. When asked about pressure, Greenwood admitted that certain results from last season created high‑stakes moments, but the team’s control over games helped mitigate that pressure.
"We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control, which aids preparation and everything else. We faced setbacks, yet we always had a safety net.
That’s why we always find a way." City now possess a brand of resilience that felt missing in earlier title chases. The manager has not overhauled the squad; instead, he has introduced subtle tweaks that yielded significant outcomes. Jeglertz describes his approach as "never being satisfied," an insatiable drive to refine every detail. Greenwood added, "He’s very open to challenge.
He invites us to challenge him and each other. The league is fiercely competitive, and teams have strengthened considerably this summer. We constantly remind each other that we are winners, which fuels our desire to stay that way.
We also have huge respect for the quality of opposition we face." Momentum is firmly on City’s side. They have developed multiple solutions for a variety of problems, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after an isolated slip are long gone.
The new challenge is to sustain these standards across all competitions, especially with the added demands of European fixtures. "I live for European nights," Greenwood confessed, expressing frustration at having to watch last season’s Champions League matches from her living room.
"It’s hard to sit on the couch and watch those games when you’re not on the pitch." These considerations go beyond pre‑season banter. How will City handle the increased workload? Can they adapt to a 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 must 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 the tools to stay at the summit: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with ambitious 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 league where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, City’s resolve appears stronger than ever. They are determined not to be a one‑hit wonder. They have worked too hard to be labeled merely winners; they aim to be recognized as true champions.