Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most would expect, and it was captain Alex Greenwood who made the message crystal clear during 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 lies at the heart of Greenwood’s warning to other clubs.
Starting the new campaign 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 establishing a championship pedigree. A champion, she argues, is forged through a process that demands consistent delivery, not just isolated triumphs. The fact that City sit alone on maximum points after the first two rounds of the season is a rarity not seen since 2015, and it signals that the defending WSL champions are already positioning themselves as the benchmark for the rest of the league. The early points haul also marks a symbolic victory over their local rivals from the north side of Manchester, who have been left trailing in the dust.
Greenwood has been a model of reliability under manager Andrée Jeglertz, and the beauty of this Manchester City side is how every individual component blends into a cohesive whole. Their guiding mantra, “We always find a way,” binds the squad together and drives them toward a collective identity that transcends individual talent. In a candid conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that she is approaching this season with a different mindset. “Because you are title holders, I suppose people assume we’ll be complacent,” she said, before correcting the presumption.
“I needed a mental switch‑off.” Greenwood revealed that the summer gave her an unprecedented amount of freedom – no training schedule, no travel, no constant scrutiny – and that this break left her feeling refreshed and eager to return to competition. She admitted she could not recall the last time she had enjoyed such an extended period of rest, and that the downtime was a vital component of her preparation. The summer also brought personal milestones. Greenwood became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack, a moment that was almost derailed by a last‑minute change of plans.
“On the day of the proposal I tried to cancel,” she laughed, “I wasn’t in the mood to go out. Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant, kept everything cool, and the surprise turned out to be amazing.” This personal happiness, she says, contributed to the sense of a “necessary reset” that she needed as a captain who constantly has “tabs open” – the pressure of high personal standards and the expectations of the team never truly switch off.
She described herself as someone who rarely turns the volume down on her responsibilities. “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 – the dressing‑room is close‑knit, it’s an open environment where we can speak freely. I’m not the only one making big decisions.” This openness within the squad, combined with a supportive locker‑room culture, has helped City maintain a level of mental resilience that many rivals lack.
Reflecting on the previous season, Greenwood recalled how City dominated the league from early November, eventually clinching their first title in a decade. The football under Jeglertz was described as freer and more inventive, driven by philosophy rather than burden. The team reinvented itself game after game, with each player adding a new layer to an ever‑evolving style of play. Opponents often entered matches unsure of what to expect, as City’s tactics shifted fluidly, yet the team consistently delivered results, even on days when the performance was not spectacular.
When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that certain results from the last campaign created pressure moments, but the team’s control over games mitigated that stress. “We don’t enjoy losing,” she said, “but we were in control, and that helps with preparation. We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net. That is what we do – we always find a way.” This mindset has cultivated a brand of gritty determination that felt missing in earlier title pursuits.
The manager’s subtle adjustments have yielded significant outcomes, and Jeglertz’s relentless pursuit of improvement – a refusal to ever be satisfied – pushes the squad to refine every detail. Greenwood praised Jeglertz’s openness to challenge. “He invites us to challenge him and each other. The league is highly competitive; teams have strengthened a lot over the summer, and I love that.
We remind each other that we are winners, and that fuels us to stay that way. We also have huge respect for the level of opposition we face.” This mutual respect and competitive fire have given City momentum that appears hard to stop.
The squad has also diversified its problem‑solving arsenal. Gone are the days when a single poor result could call their mental toughness into question. Now the challenge lies in maintaining high standards across multiple competitions, including the demanding schedule of European fixtures.
Greenwood confessed her love for European nights, noting the frustration of watching last season’s Champions League from her living room rather than being on the pitch. “It’s hard to watch those games and not be involved,” she admitted, underscoring the hunger to compete at the highest continental level. These considerations raise broader questions about City’s capacity to handle the increased workload.
Can they sustain three games a week without a dip in quality? Does the squad possess enough depth to compete on every front? Greenwood believes the experience of missing out last season can be turned into an advantage. “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 in the infrastructure needed to become a lasting WSL powerhouse: a £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with clear ambitions, a pipeline of talent ready for top‑flight football, and a captain who embodies both leadership and humility. Adding to that is the emergence of players like Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who have already made an impact. In a league where consistency has already begun to strain their biggest rivals, City’s resolve to win appears stronger than ever.
They refuse to be a one‑hit wonder; the work they have put in aims to cement them as true champions rather than mere winners. As the season unfolds, the message from Greenwood remains clear: the club is not content with past glories, and their relentless pursuit of excellence should serve as a warning to every opponent that hopes to dethrone them.