Manchester City have announced their ambitions far earlier than most of their competitors, and captain Alex Greenwood made that crystal clear during the preseason. She said, “A true champion is someone who goes and wins again. A winner might be a one‑off, but a champion does it over and over.” This distinction between a fleeting victory and sustained dominance has become the mantra of the club as they embark on the new campaign. Starting the season with two consecutive wins – a feat no other side has managed so far – underlines Greenwood’s belief that there is a fundamental difference between simply being a winner and being a champion.
A champion, she argues, is forged through a process that demands relentless consistency and the ability to back up every triumph with another one. In other words, success must be repeated, not merely celebrated in isolation. After the first two rounds of fixtures, City sit alone at the summit of the table with a perfect points tally, a situation that has not occurred in the Women’s Super League since 2015. The defending champions have seized the initiative, treating the opening leg of the title race as a professional sprint rather than a leisurely jog.
Their early dominance has left the rest of Manchester – particularly the clubs on the city’s red side – trailing in their wake. Greenwood herself has become a model of reliability under the guidance of manager Andree Jeglertz.
The beauty of this Manchester City side lies in how every individual component contributes to a cohesive whole, all bound by a single guiding principle: “We always find a way.” This ethos is echoed throughout the squad, from the back‑line to the attacking line, and it is reinforced in every training session at the club’s state‑of‑the‑art facility. In a candid conversation at the club’s training base, Greenwood explained that her mindset for the season would be different from the one that carried her through the previous campaign. When asked whether she felt any pressure as defending champions, she smiled and said, “I needed a mental switch‑off. 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.” The summer break proved transformative for Greenwood in more ways than one. She became engaged to her long‑term partner, Jack, a milestone that added a personal layer of happiness to her professional life.
She admitted that on the day of the proposal she tried to cancel the celebration, feeling unmotivated to go out. “Jack had already paid a hefty deposit on the restaurant,” she recalled, “and he kept everything cool and low‑key. It turned out to be amazing.” Beyond the romance, Greenwood described the offseason as a “necessary reset.” As captain, she is constantly juggling responsibilities, with “tabs open” on both her own high standards and the expectations of the team.
She likened the role to an endless homework assignment that never truly ends. “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.” Looking back at last season should evoke fond memories for any City supporter.
The team dominated the league from early November, eventually securing their first title in a decade. Under Jeglertz, the style of play was freer and more inventive, guided by philosophy rather than burdened by rigid tactics. The squad reinvented itself constantly – player to player, match to match – leaving opponents uncertain about what to expect. Even on days when the performance was not spectacular, the team usually managed to secure the three points.
When asked about pressure, Greenwood explained that the moments of adversity they faced last season actually helped them grow. “We don’t enjoy losing, but we were in control most of the time,” she said. “That helps with preparation, with everything really. We had setbacks, but we also had a safety net.
That is what we do – always find a way.” City now possess a brand of resilience that felt missing in previous title chases. The manager did not overhaul the squad; instead, he introduced subtle adjustments that yielded big results.
Jeglertz’s approach is described as “never being satisfied,” an unappeasable drive to improve 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. The team has developed multiple solutions for most problems they encounter on the pitch. The days when their mental toughness was questioned after a single poor result are behind them.
The new challenge is to maintain those high standards across all competitions, especially as they re‑enter European football. Greenwood confessed her yearning for European nights: “I live for European nights,” she 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 reach far beyond preseason banter.
The club must now answer whether they can handle the increased workload of three games a week, whether the squad depth is sufficient to compete on every front, and how they will adapt to the relentless rhythm of elite competition. Greenwood summed it up succinctly: “We weren’t there last year and we have to use that feeling to our advantage.
We cannot waste our opportunity.” Manchester City have spent a decade trying to unlock the secret to becoming a lasting WSL powerhouse. Today, they possess everything needed to stay at the top: a brand‑new £10 million training complex, an inspirational manager with ambitious targets, a pipeline of WSL‑ready talent, a superb captain, and star players like Bunny Shaw – the PFA Player of the Year – who have already started the season strongly. In a league where consistency has already hampered their biggest rivals, City’s resolve appears stronger than ever. They are determined not to be a one‑hit wonder.
After working tirelessly to become winners, they now aim to be recognised as champions, a status that demands repeated success, unwavering focus, and the ability to adapt to any obstacle that arises. Fans can catch the next showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool live on Sky Sports+ this Friday, with kick‑off scheduled for 7 pm.
For those looking for a bit of extra excitement, the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £1 million – entry is free, and the prize could add an extra layer of thrill to an already electrifying season.