Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most of their competitors, a message that was amplified during pre‑season by captain Alex Greenwood. She articulated a simple but powerful distinction: “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.” Starting the new campaign with two consecutive victories – a feat no other side has managed so far – underscores Greenwood’s belief that there is a clear line separating a fleeting winner from a genuine champion. The journey to becoming a champion is not a single event; it is a continuous process that requires the team to repeatedly confirm the standards they have already set.
After the opening two rounds of matches, only one team 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 initiative in the early stages of the race with the professionalism of a side that knows what it means to wear the crown.
Their rivals from the north‑west have been left trailing in their wake. Greenwood herself has become a model of reliability under manager Andree Jeglertz.
The beauty of this Manchester City side lies in the way every individual component blends together to create a cohesive whole, guided by a single mantra: “We always find a way.” In a conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old explained that her mindset for the season would be framed differently this time around. "Because you are title holders, I suppose some people think you can be complacent? Not at all," she said.
"I needed a mental switch‑off. 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 a break, so I definitely enjoyed it." Her summer hiatus brought several personal milestones, the most notable being her engagement to long‑time partner Jack. She recounted how she almost cancelled the evening plans for the proposal, only to be surprised when Jack revealed he had already secured a hefty deposit on a restaurant.
"I tried to cancel the plans on the day," she laughed, "but Jack 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 feels like she has multiple tabs open, never fully able to disconnect from the high expectations she sets for herself and the squad. "I’m not the type of person who can turn everything off; I’m on most 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, an open environment where we can speak freely.
I’m not the only one with authority to make big decisions." Reflecting on last season evokes fond memories for the players. City dominated the league, taking the WSL lead as early as November and ultimately clinching their first title in a decade.
The football was freer, more inventive, driven by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than feeling like a burden. Throughout the campaign, the team reinvented itself – from player to player, match to match – leaving opponents uncertain of what to expect. Even on days when the performance was not spectacular, the team still managed to secure the result.
When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that certain results from the previous season created high‑stakes moments, but the squad never felt out of control. "We don’t like to lose, but we were in charge of the games.
That helps with preparation. We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net.
That’s what we do – we always find a way." City now possess a brand of resilience that seemed missing in earlier title challenges. The manager has not overhauled the squad; instead, he has introduced subtle tweaks that have produced significant outcomes. Jeglertz describes his approach as an endless quest for improvement, never settling for “good enough.” Greenwood added, "He’s very open to challenge.
He invites it. He wants us to challenge him and each other. The league is fiercely competitive; teams have strengthened a lot this summer, and I love that. We remind each other that we are winners, and that 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. The team has developed multiple solutions for a wide range of problems, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after a single slip are gone. The new challenge is to sustain those high standards across every competition, especially as they embark on a demanding European campaign.
"I live for European nights," Greenwood said, 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?" These concerns extend far beyond pre‑season speculation. How will City handle the increased workload?
Can they adapt to a schedule of three games a 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.
We cannot waste our opportunity," Greenwood asserted. After a decade of searching for the formula to become WSL champions, City now have all the ingredients: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training facility, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, a flood of talent ready for the league, a superb captain, and star forward Bunny Shaw – the PFA Player of the Year – already off to a flying start.
In a Women's Super League season where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, City’s determination to win appears stronger than ever. They refuse to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to be labelled merely winners.
Their aim is to be recognised as true champions, a status they intend to defend relentlessly throughout the campaign.