Manchester City have made their intentions crystal clear from the outset of the new campaign. Captain Alex Greenwood articulated this vision during the pre-season period, drawing a crucial distinction that should concern their rivals.
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 philosophy has already begun to take shape on the pitch. The Cityzens opened their Women's Super League account with consecutive victories, a feat no other team has matched in the opening fortnight. Their perfect record across the first two rounds of fixtures represents something unseen since 2015, positioning them as the clear frontrunners in the title race.
The defending champions have wasted no time reasserting their authority. Having claimed their first WSL title in a decade last season, alongside the Women's FA Cup, City are now demonstrating the consistency required to transform a one-off triumph into sustained excellence. They have already left their Manchester rivals trailing in their wake.
Greenwood, now 32 years old, has emerged as a cornerstone of this project under manager Andree Jeglertz. The midfielder has accumulated 18 WSL appearances in 2025-26, starting 17 of them and recording five league assists, placing her among the division's creative leaders. Yet her influence extends far beyond statistics.
Speaking at City's training base before the campaign commenced, Greenwood revealed that her approach to this season would differ markedly from previous years. The distinction, she explained, had nothing to do with defending their crown.
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 off, so I definitely enjoyed it.
The captain's summer proved transformative in ways extending beyond the pitch. She became engaged to long-term partner Jack, an event that nearly did not happen after she attempted to cancel their plans on the evening of the proposal.
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 told me he'd paid a heavy deposit on the restaurant. He played it very cool, didn't give much away, and it was amazing.
Beyond personal milestones, Greenwood characterised the break as a
necessary reset. The demands of captaincy mean she operates with perpetual awareness of team dynamics and her own exacting standards, a burden she compares to endless administrative work.
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, it's an open environment to speak. I'm not the only one with the authority to make big calls.
Last season's achievements provide a foundation for this renewed ambition. City dominated the WSL from early November onwards, establishing themselves as the competition's premier force. Their football under Jeglertz proved both inventive and adaptable, with opponents unable to predict or counter their evolving tactical patterns. Even in matches where they performed below their best, they invariably found a way to secure victory.
I get asked a lot about pressure, and certain results made for pressure moments last season. We don't enjoy to lose. But in reality, we were in control. That helps with your preparation, with everything really. We had setbacks but we also had a safety net. That is what we do, always find a way.
The current iteration of Manchester City possesses an edge that eluded previous title-chasing squads. A competitive ruthlessness now permeates their play, a quality that seemed absent despite their earlier near-misses. Jeglertz has not required wholesale reconstruction; instead, his adjustments have been surgical in nature, producing outsized results.
The manager made subtle differences with big results.Greenwood observed. The manager himself frames this philosophy as
never being satisfied, an insatiable drive to refine every detail of their performance.
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.
City now possess momentum alongside tactical flexibility. They have engineered multiple responses to most in-game problems. The fragility that once followed a single poor result has been replaced by mental fortitude. The challenge ahead lies in maintaining these standards across multiple competitions whilst also navigating European football.
I live for European nights. Do you know how hard it is to watch those games and not be involved?Greenwood said, referencing her frustration at observing last season's Champions League from her living room rather than participating.
These questions carry implications stretching well beyond the current campaign. How will City manage the physical and mental toll of three matches per week? Can their squad depth match their ambition across every front? Will they sustain their intensity when fatigue inevitably sets in?
We weren't there last year and we have to use that feeling to our advantage. We cannot waste our opportunity.Greenwood insisted.
Manchester City have invested substantially in their infrastructure and personnel. A new £10m training facility now underpins their operations. Jeglertz brings both inspiration and demanding targets. The summer transfer window brought WSL-ready talent through the door. And they possess Bunny Shaw, the PFA Player of the Year, who has already made an explosive start to the season.
In a Women's Super League campaign where consistency has already proven costly for their rivals, City's determination appears more steely than ever. They have not built this project merely to win once. They have worked too hard to settle for being considered winners. Their objective is to establish themselves as champions—a distinction that demands repetition, resilience, and an unrelenting refusal to accept anything less than excellence.
What happens next
Manchester City face Liverpool at Joie Stadium on Friday, September 18, 2026, with kick-off at 19:00 BST. The fixture will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+, with coverage beginning at 18:30.
