Manchester City have announced their ambitions far earlier than most rivals, a sentiment voiced 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 underlines the club’s belief that there is a fundamental difference between merely winning a title and establishing a lasting legacy of success. Kicking off the new campaign with two consecutive victories – a feat no other side has managed so far – serves as a practical illustration of Greenwood’s philosophy. Consistency, she suggests, is the cornerstone of true championship status; it is not enough to lift a trophy once, the team must repeatedly back up that achievement with high‑level performances.
After the first two rounds of fixtures, City sit alone at the summit of the table, a scenario not witnessed in the Women’s Super League since 2015. The defending champions have taken the lead in the early stages of the race with the poise of seasoned professionals, leaving their Manchester rivals in the dust and signalling that they intend to be the benchmark for the season.
Greenwood has been 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 together to form a cohesive whole, united by a simple yet powerful mantra: “We always find a way.” In a conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mindset for this season would be framed differently from the previous one. “Because we are the title holders, I felt I needed a mental switch‑off,” she said.
“This summer I had the freedom of an open schedule, and that has left me feeling refreshed. I can’t recall the last time I had such an extended break, and I truly enjoyed it.” Her summer off the pitch was marked by personal milestones as well. Greenwood became engaged to her long‑time partner, Jack, after a memorable proposal that almost fell through when she tried to cancel their plans on the night.
“I was honestly not in the mood to go out,” she laughed, “but Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant. He kept it cool, didn’t give anything 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 leadership, with many “tabs open” in her mind, making it difficult to fully disengage from the high standards she sets for herself and the squad. “I’m not the type of person who can completely switch off,” she admitted. “I reflect a lot, and I needed that downtime because a captain’s responsibilities extend far beyond the pitch.
I’m fortunate to have a close‑knit dressing room where we can speak openly. I’m not the only one making big decisions.” Reflecting on last season evokes fond memories for Greenwood. City dominated the league, taking the WSL lead as early as November and ultimately clinching their first title in a decade.
Their style of play was freer and more inventive, guided by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than constrained by it. The team reinvented itself constantly, with each player adapting to new roles and each match presenting fresh tactical challenges for opponents, who never knew exactly what to expect. When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that the team’s control over games helped mitigate stressful moments. “We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control most of the time,” she said.
“That control feeds into our preparation. We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net – our ability to always find a way.” City now possess a brand of resilience that seemed missing in previous title pursuits.
The manager’s subtle adjustments have produced significant results, and Jeglertz’s relentless pursuit of improvement ensures that complacency never sets in. Greenwood praised this approach, noting, “He welcomes challenges. He wants us to challenge him and each other.
The league is highly competitive, and many teams have strengthened over the summer. We remind each other that we are winners, and that fuels our desire to stay on top. We also have huge respect for the quality of our opposition.” Momentum is on City’s side, and the squad has developed multiple solutions for a variety of problems. The days when a single poor result would call their mental toughness into question are gone.
The new challenge is to maintain these high standards across every competition, especially as they embark on a demanding European campaign. “I live for European nights,” Greenwood confessed, expressing frustration at having watched last season’s Champions League matches from her living room rather than being on the pitch. “It’s tough watching those games and not being part of them.” These considerations reach far beyond pre‑season speculation. The key questions now are: How will City handle the increased workload?
Can they sustain a rhythm of three games per 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,” Greenwood asserted. “We cannot waste this opportunity.” After a decade of searching for the formula to become consistent WSL champions, City now possess the tools needed to stay at the summit: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training facility, an inspiring manager with lofty goals, a roster filled with players ready for top‑flight football, a superb captain, and the brilliance of 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 to win appears stronger than ever. They are determined not to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to settle for merely being winners. Their aim is to be recognized as champions – a title earned through repeated success, relentless improvement, and an unyielding belief that they will always find a way to triumph.