Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most of their competitors, a sentiment echoed by captain Alex Greenwood during pre‑season. She warned, “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 underpins City’s approach as they kick off the new campaign. Starting the season with two consecutive wins – a feat no other side has managed so far – reinforces Greenwood’s belief that there is a clear line separating a winner from a champion. Achieving champion status is not a single event; it is a continuous process that demands the team consistently back up every achievement with fresh successes.
After the first two rounds of matches, only one club sits atop the table with a perfect points tally, a scenario that has not occurred in the Women’s Super League since 2015. The defending champions have already positioned themselves as the benchmark, seizing the momentum and treating the opening leg of the race like seasoned professionals, while the rest of Manchester’s football scene lags behind. Greenwood has become a model of reliability under the guidance of manager Andrée Jeglertz. The beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how each individual component blends into a cohesive whole, unified by a single guiding principle: “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 season will be framed differently this time around.
She rejected the notion that, as title‑holders, they could afford complacency. “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 off‑season was marked by significant personal milestones, most notably her engagement to long‑time partner Jack. She recalled the evening of the proposal with humor: “If I’m being really honest, the day of, I tried to cancel plans. I wasn’t in the mood to go out. But Jack had paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant, kept it cool, didn’t give much away, and it turned out to be amazing.” Beyond romance, Greenwood described the break as a “necessary reset.” As captain, she is constantly juggling multiple responsibilities, never truly able to switch off from the high standards she sets for herself and the squad.
“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.” Reflecting on last season evokes fond memories for the players. City dominated the league, taking the WSL lead as early as November and eventually clinching their first title in a decade.
Their football was freer and more inventive, shaped by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than constrained by it. Reinvention was evident across the pitch, from individual players to collective tactics. Opponents often entered matches unsure of what to expect, as City’s patterns of play continually evolved.
Even on days when performances were modest, the team usually managed to secure the desired result. When asked about pressure, Greenwood admitted that certain outcomes last season created moments of heightened tension. “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.” The current squad now possesses a brand of resilience that felt missing in previous title pursuits.
The manager has introduced subtle adjustments that have yielded significant outcomes, and 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.” Manchester City’s momentum is undeniable. They have cultivated multiple solutions for a range of challenges, and the era of questioning their mental toughness after an isolated slip‑up appears to be over. The new hurdle is maintaining these high standards across every competition, especially as they aim to make a deeper run in Europe.
Greenwood expressed her enthusiasm for continental nights, noting the frustration of watching last season’s Champions League from the comfort of her living room: “Do you know how hard it is to watch those games and not be involved?” These considerations extend well beyond pre‑season chatter. The club must now answer whether they can handle the intensified schedule of three games per week, and whether the squad possesses sufficient 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. City have spent a decade unlocking the formula for WSL success.
Today, they enjoy a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, a steady influx of talent ready for top‑flight football, and a captain who embodies both leadership and resilience. Adding to that is the emergence of Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who is already making an impact. In a league where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, Manchester City’s determination to win appears stronger than ever.
They refuse to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to be labeled merely winners. Their goal is to be recognized as true champions, a status they intend to defend through relentless effort, strategic evolution, and an unwavering belief that they will always find a way to succeed.