Manchester City have announced their ambitions far earlier than most of their competitors, and captain Alex Greenwood made that crystal clear during the pre‑season. She warned, “A true champion is someone who goes and wins again.
A winner might be a one‑off, but a champion repeats success over and over.” Starting the new campaign with two consecutive victories – a feat no other side has managed so far – underscores Greenwood’s conviction that there is a fundamental difference between merely winning a match and establishing a lasting championship pedigree. To become a champion, a club must continually back up its early triumphs with consistent performances, turning isolated success into a sustained narrative.
Only one team currently sits atop the league on maximum points after the opening two rounds, a situation that has not been seen since the 2014‑15 season. The defending WSL champions have already positioned themselves as the benchmark, taking the baton forward and approaching the early stages of the title race with the poise of seasoned professionals. Their rivals from the north‑west have already been left in their wake. Greenwood herself has been a model of reliability under manager Andree Jeglertz.
The true elegance of this Manchester City side lies in how each individual component meshes into a cohesive whole, guided by a single, unifying 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 coming season will be framed differently. She dismissed the notion that being title‑holders automatically grants a sense of complacency.
“I needed a mental switch‑off,” she said. “This summer I had total freedom, no set schedule, and that’s why I feel so refreshed now. I can’t recall the last time I had such a long break, and I truly enjoyed it.” The summer break also brought significant personal milestones for Greenwood.
She became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack, an event that almost didn’t happen because she tried to cancel their plans on the day of the proposal. “Honestly, I tried to back out on the day,” she laughed.
“I wasn’t in the mood to go out, but Jack had already paid a hefty deposit for the restaurant. He kept it cool, didn’t give anything away, and it turned out to be amazing.” Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the off‑season as a “necessary reset.” As captain, she constantly carries the weight of leadership, with countless mental “tabs” open that prevent her from fully disconnecting from the pressures of high personal standards and team expectations.
“I’m not the type of person who can switch everything off,” she admitted. “I’m on most of the time, reflecting a lot. I needed a break because a captain has a huge role off the pitch. I’m lucky, though – our dressing‑room is tight‑knit, open, and 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 squad. City dominated the league from early November, eventually clinching their first title in a decade.
Their football was liberated, inventive, and guided by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than constrained by it. The team reinvented itself across the pitch, with each player and each game offering new tactical twists.
Opponents often entered matches unsure of what to expect, unable to predict City’s ever‑evolving patterns, yet the team consistently delivered results. When asked about pressure, Greenwood noted, “People ask me a lot about pressure, and certain results created pressure moments last season.
We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control. 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 previous title bids. The manager didn’t overhaul the squad; instead, he made subtle adjustments that yielded big outcomes. Greenwood highlighted Jeglertz’s relentless pursuit of perfection: “He’s never satisfied, always looking to improve every detail.
He invites challenges, wants us to question him and each other. The league is fiercely competitive, teams have strengthened massively this summer, and I love that. We remind each other we’re winners, and that fuels our desire to stay that way.
We also have huge respect for the quality of the opposition.” Momentum is firmly on Manchester City’s side. The squad has developed multiple solutions for a wide range of problems, and the era of doubting their mental toughness after an occasional slip has passed.
The new challenge lies in maintaining high standards across all competitions while also navigating the demanding schedule of European football. “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. “Do you know how hard it is to watch those games and not be involved?” These considerations reach far beyond pre‑season speculation. How will City manage the increased workload?
Can they sustain a rhythm of three games per week without compromising performance? Does the squad have enough depth and quality to compete on every front? “We weren’t there last year, and we have to use that feeling to our advantage.
We cannot waste this opportunity,” Greenwood asserted. The club has spent a decade searching for the formula to become a consistent WSL champion. Today, they possess everything needed to stay at the summit: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training facility, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, a pipeline of WSL‑ready talent, 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 settle for mere winners. Their aim is to be recognised as true champions, a status they intend to defend through relentless effort, tactical evolution, and an unwavering belief that they will always find a way to succeed. Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, kickoff at 7 pm.