Manchester City have announced their ambitions far earlier than most of their competitors, a sentiment echoed by captain Alex Greenwood during pre‑season preparations. She warned that a true champion is defined by repeated success, not by a single triumph: "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 sets the tone for the club’s approach to the new season. Starting the campaign with two consecutive victories – a feat no other side has achieved so far – underlines Greenwood’s belief that there is a clear line between merely winning a match and building a lasting championship pedigree. In her view, becoming a champion is a process that requires consistent performance and the ability to back up early achievements with sustained excellence.

After the first two rounds of fixtures, Manchester City sit alone atop the table with a perfect points tally, a situation that has not occurred in the Women’s Super League since 2015. The defending champions appear to be the team to beat, seizing the initiative in the early stages of the race with the poise of seasoned professionals.

Their dominance has already left their Manchester rivals in the dust. Greenwood has been a model of reliability under manager Andree Jeglertz. The beauty of the City side, she explains, lies in how every individual contribution blends into a cohesive whole, guided by a single mantra: "We always find a way." Before a training session at the club’s base, the 32‑year‑old captain described a shift in her mindset for the upcoming season. While some might assume that holding the title automatically grants confidence, Greenwood insists the reality is far more nuanced.

"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 off, so I definitely enjoyed it." The extended break proved transformative for Greenwood, not only professionally but personally.

She became engaged to her long‑term partner Jack during the hiatus, a milestone that added a layer of happiness to her off‑field life. She recounted the proposal night with a smile: "If I’m being really honest, the day of, I tried to cancel plans.

I wasn’t in the mood to go out. But Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant. He kept it cool, 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 constantly juggles numerous responsibilities, feeling as though she always has "tabs open" and can never fully disconnect from the high standards she sets for herself and the squad.

"I’m not the kind of person to turn it all off," she said. "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." Reflecting on last season, Greenwood highlighted how City dominated the league from early November and secured their first title in a decade.

Under Jeglertz’s guidance, the team played with greater freedom and creativity, unburdened by rigid expectations. The side reinvented itself game after game, making it difficult for opponents to anticipate their evolving tactics. Even on days when the performance was not spectacular, City still managed to secure the necessary results. When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that the setbacks they faced last season actually provided a safety net and reinforced their habit of finding solutions: "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 is what we do – always find a way." City now possess a subtle edge – a brand of resilience that was missing in previous title bids. Jeglertz’s incremental adjustments have yielded significant outcomes, and Greenwood praised the manager’s relentless pursuit of improvement: "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.

The squad has developed multiple solutions for a range of tactical problems, and the days when their mental toughness was questioned after a single slip are now behind them. The new challenge lies in maintaining these high standards across all competitions, especially as they embark on a demanding European campaign.

"I live for European nights," Greenwood confessed, noting the frustration of watching last season’s Champions League matches from her living room rather than being on the pitch. She wondered aloud how hard it is to sit on the sidelines while the action unfolds.

These considerations extend far beyond pre‑season speculation. The club must now answer whether it can cope with the intensified schedule of three games a week, and whether the squad 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. After a decade of chasing the elusive formula for WSL supremacy, City now possess the tools to stay at the summit: a state‑of‑the‑art £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with clear ambitions, a pipeline of talent ready for top‑flight football, a captain who leads by example, and the brilliance of Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who has already started the season brightly. In a league where consistency has already hampered their chief rivals, Manchester City’s resolve 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 cement their status as champions, not just participants in the title race.

Watch Manchester City versus Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday at 6.30 pm (kick‑off at 7 pm).