Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most of their competitors, a sentiment voiced by captain Alex Greenwood during the pre‑season. She remarked, “A true champion is someone who goes and wins again.
A winner might be 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 stark difference between merely winning a match and establishing a lasting legacy as a champion. Achieving champion status is not a single event; it is a continuous process that requires a team to repeatedly back up its early successes with consistent performances. After the first two rounds of fixtures, only one club has amassed the maximum possible points, a scenario that has not been witnessed in the Women’s Super League since 2015. The defending champions have already positioned themselves as the team to beat, taking the baton and tackling the opening leg of the season with the professionalism of seasoned veterans.
Their early dominance has left the other Manchester side, United, far behind. Greenwood herself has been a model of reliability under manager Andree Jeglertz. The true beauty of this Manchester City side lies in the way every individual component blends together to form a cohesive whole, guided by a single mantra: “We always find a way.” During a conversation at the club’s training base, before any ball was even kicked, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mindset for the season would be approached differently this time around.
She dismissed the notion that, simply because they are title‑defenders, they could afford to be complacent. “I needed a mental switch‑off,” Greenwood said.
“This summer I had total freedom, no scheduled training, 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.” Her summer off the pitch brought several personal milestones, most notably her engagement to long‑time partner Jack.
She recounted how she almost cancelled their plans on the day of the proposal, only for Jack to keep his cool and surprise her with a restaurant reservation that had required a hefty deposit. “If I’m being completely honest, on the day I tried to cancel our plans,” she laughed, “I just wasn’t in the mood to go out. Jack told me he’d already paid a big deposit on the restaurant. He stayed calm, didn’t give anything away, and it turned out to be amazing.” Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the summer as a “necessary reset.” As captain, she is constantly juggling responsibilities and can never fully switch off from the high standards she sets for herself and the squad.
It feels like an endless homework assignment that never truly ends. “I’m not the type of person who can turn everything off,” she admitted.
“I’m involved most of the time, reflecting a lot. I needed that break because a captain has a huge role off the pitch as well. Fortunately, we have a close‑knit dressing room, an open environment where we can speak freely. I’m not the only one with authority to make big decisions.” Looking back at last season evokes fond memories for Greenwood.
City were the dominant force, leading the WSL from early November and eventually lifting their first league crown in a decade. Their football was freer and more inventive, shaped by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than being weighed down by pressure.
The team reinvented itself across the entire pitch, with each player and each match offering something new. Opponents often entered games unsure of what to expect, unable to predict City’s ever‑evolving patterns of play.
Even on days when the performance seemed ordinary, the squad almost always managed to secure the desired result. When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that certain outcomes from the previous season created moments of heightened expectation. “We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control most of the time.
That control helped us prepare for everything. We faced setbacks, but we also had a safety net.
That’s why we always find a way.” City now possess a brand of resilience that felt missing in earlier title races, despite coming close on several occasions. The overhaul was not massive; instead, the manager introduced subtle tweaks that yielded significant results. Jeglertz describes this approach as a relentless pursuit of improvement, an insatiable desire to refine every detail. “He’s very open to challenge,” Greenwood added.
“He invites it. He wants us to challenge him and each other.
The league is incredibly 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 the opposition we face.” Manchester City carry momentum into the new season. They have devised multiple solutions for a variety of problems, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after an isolated slip are now behind them. The current challenge is to sustain these high standards across all competitions, including the demanding European fixtures.
“I live for European nights,” Greenwood confessed, referring to the frustration of watching last season’s Champions League games from her living room. “Do you know how hard it is to watch those matches and not be part of them?” These concerns reach far beyond pre‑season speculation.
How will City manage the increased workload? Can they adapt to a schedule that may see them playing three games a week?
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,” she said. “We cannot waste this opportunity.” City have spent a decade searching for the formula that turns a WSL contender into a consistent champion.
Today they possess everything required to stay at the summit: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, an influx of talent ready for top‑flight football, a superb captain, and star forward Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who has already begun the season in blistering form. In a league where consistency has already hampered the biggest challengers, 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 labelled merely winners.
Their goal is to be recognised as true champions, a status they intend to defend with every match they play.