Manchester City have made an unnervingly early statement about their ambitions, a sentiment first voiced by captain Alex Greenwood during pre‑season. She warned, "A true champion is someone who goes and wins again.
A winner might be one‑off. But a champion does it over and over." This distinction between a fleeting victor and a sustained champion underpins the tone of City’s new campaign. Starting the season with two consecutive wins – a feat no other side has managed so far – underscores Greenwood’s belief that there is a clear line separating a simple winner from a genuine champion.
Achieving champion status is not a one‑time event; it is a continual process that can only be validated by consistently building on past successes. After the opening two rounds of fixtures, 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 momentum of the early season and attacking the race as consummate professionals.
Their rivals from the red side of Manchester have been left trailing in the dust. Greenwood herself has been a model of reliability under manager Ander Jeglertz.
The true beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how every individual component blends to form a complete, cohesive whole, guided by a single mantra: "We always find a way." In a casual chat 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 framed differently this time around. "Because we’re the title‑holders, I could have taken a complacent approach," she said, "but that’s not how I see it." She went on to admit that she needed a mental reset.
"This summer I had total freedom – no training schedule, no travel, just a break – and that’s why I feel so refreshed now. I can’t remember the last time I had a pause that long, so I really enjoyed it," Greenwood explained.
The summer break also brought personal milestones. She became engaged to long‑time partner Jack, a moment that almost slipped away when she tried to cancel their plans on the night of the proposal.
"Honestly, I tried to back out of the evening," she laughed, "I wasn’t in the mood to go out. Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant, kept everything low‑key, and it turned out to be amazing." Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the hiatus as a "necessary reset".
As captain, she constantly has "tabs open" – the weight of her own high standards and the expectations of the squad never truly switch off, much like an endless homework assignment. "I’m not the type of person who can completely shut down," she said. "I’m thinking about the team most of the time. I reflect a lot.
I needed that break because a captain’s role extends far beyond the pitch. Fortunately, we have a close‑knit dressing‑room, an open environment where we can speak freely. I’m not the only one making big decisions." Looking back at last season should evoke pleasant memories for City fans.
The team dominated the league from early November, ultimately securing their first title in a decade. Their football was freer and more inventive, shaped by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than constrained by it. Reinvention was evident across the pitch – from individual players to collective tactics – game after game. Opponents often entered matches unsure of what to expect, unable to predict the ever‑evolving patterns City displayed.
Even on days when the performance was modest, the squad usually managed to secure the three points. When asked about pressure, Greenwood admitted that certain results from the previous campaign created high‑pressure moments.
"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 an edge – a subtle brand of tenacity that seemed missing in earlier title runs.
The overhaul was not radical; instead, Jeglertz made nuanced adjustments that yielded big outcomes. He describes the approach as "never being satisfied", an insatiable drive to improve every detail.
"He welcomes challenges," Greenwood added. "He invites us to test him and each other.
The league is fiercely competitive. Teams have strengthened enormously this summer, and I love that. We constantly remind each other that we are winners, and that fuels our desire to stay that way.
We also have immense respect for the quality of the opposition." Manchester City carry momentum into the new season, having crafted multiple solutions for a range of problems. The days when their mental toughness was questioned after a single slip‑up are behind them.
The current challenge is to sustain high standards across every competition, including the demanding European fixtures. "I live for European nights," Greenwood confessed, recalling the frustration of watching last season’s Champions League matches from her living room. "It’s tough to sit on the couch and watch those games when you’d rather be on the pitch." These concerns reach far beyond pre‑season banter. How will City manage the increased workload?
Can they adapt to a relentless schedule of three games per week? Does the squad have sufficient depth and quality to compete on all fronts? "We weren’t there last year, and we have to turn that experience into an advantage.
We cannot waste this opportunity," Greenwood asserted. After a decade of striving to crack the formula for WSL supremacy, City now have all the tools required to stay at the summit: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, a pipeline of WSL‑ready talent, and a superb captain. And of course, they boast the likes of Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who has already started the season in scintillating form. In a league where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, City’s resolve appears stronger than ever.
They are not content with being 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 week after week. Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, kickoff at 7 pm.