Manchester City have announced their intentions far earlier than most of their rivals, and captain Alex Greenwood made that crystal clear during the pre‑season. She said, "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. Kicking off the season with two consecutive wins – a feat no other side has managed so far – serves as proof of Greenwood’s belief that there is a tangible gap between merely winning and truly reigning.
Achieving champion status is not a one‑time event; it is a continuous process that demands the team repeatedly validate its earlier successes. After the first two rounds of fixtures, only one club sits atop the table with a perfect points tally, a scenario that has not occurred since 2015. The current WSL holders have already positioned themselves as the team to beat, seizing the initiative in the opening phase of the race with the composure of seasoned professionals. In doing so, they have left their Manchester rivals in the dust.
Greenwood herself has been a model of consistency under the guidance of manager Andree Jeglertz. The beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how each individual component blends to create a cohesive whole, bound by a single mantra: "We always find a way." In a conversation at the club’s training base, the 32‑year‑old captain explained that her mindset for the season would be different this time around.
She rejected the notion that being title‑defenders automatically grants any sort of complacency. "I needed a mental switch‑off," she admitted. "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." Greenwood’s summer hiatus was not only about rest; it also featured a personal milestone.
She became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack, an event that unfolded despite her attempts to cancel the original plans on the night of the proposal. "If I’m being really honest, the day of, I tried to cancel plans," she laughed.
"I wasn’t in the mood to go out. But Jack had paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant.
He kept it cool, didn’t give much away, and it turned out to be amazing." Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the break as a "necessary reset." As captain, she constantly has "tabs open" – an endless stream of responsibilities and high standards that make it difficult to completely disengage, akin to an unending homework assignment. "I’m not the kind of person to turn it all off; 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 with the dressing‑room we have – we’re very close, it’s an open environment to speak. I’m not the only one with the authority to make big calls," she said. Reflecting on last season evokes fond memories for the squad. City dominated the league, leading the WSL from early November and ultimately securing their first title in a decade.
Their football was freer and more inventive, shaped by Jeglertz’s philosophy rather than weighed down by it. The team reinvented itself across the pitch, with each player and each match offering something new. Opponents often entered games uncertain of what to expect, unable to predict the ever‑evolving patterns City displayed.
Even on nights when the performance was modest, the team usually managed to secure the three points. When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that certain results from the previous campaign created pressure moments, but the team’s control over games helped mitigate that stress.
"We don’t enjoy losing. In reality, we were in control, and that aids our preparation. We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net.
That is what we do – we always find a way," she noted. City now possess a brand of resilience that seemed missing in earlier title bids. The manager has not overhauled the squad but has introduced subtle tweaks that yielded significant outcomes.
Jeglertz describes his approach as "never being satisfied," a relentless drive to refine every detail. Greenwood added, "He’s very open to challenge. He invites it.
He wants us to challenge him and each other. It’s such a competitive league. Teams have strengthened so much this summer, I love it.
We remind each other we are winners, that fuels us to want to remain that. But we have huge respect for the level of opposition we face." Momentum is firmly on City’s side.
They have cultivated multiple solutions for a variety of problems, and the days when a single poor result would cast doubt on their mental toughness are behind them. The new challenge is to sustain these high standards across all competitions, including the demanding European fixtures. "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 beyond pre‑season speculation.
The questions now revolve around how City will manage the increased workload, whether they can cope with a schedule of three games per week, and if the squad’s depth is sufficient to compete on every front. "We weren’t there last year and we have to use that feeling to our advantage. We cannot waste our opportunity," Greenwood asserted.
The club has spent a decade unlocking the formula for WSL success. Today, they possess a £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with lofty ambitions, a pipeline of talent ready for top‑flight football, a captain who leads by example, and star forward Bunny Shaw – the PFA Player of the Year – already making an impact. In a league where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, Manchester City’s resolve appears stronger than ever. They refuse to be a one‑hit wonder; they have worked too hard to settle for merely being winners.
Their aim is to be recognised as champions, a status they intend to defend with the same vigor that earned them the title initially. Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, kick‑off at 7 pm.