Manchester City’s WSL title defence has begun with maximum points, reinforcing captain Alex Greenwood’s belief that winning once is not enough to establish a champion.
City are the only side to have won both of their opening matches, a start not seen at the beginning of a WSL season since 2015. Their victories over Birmingham and Aston Villa have immediately placed the holders at the front of the early title race.
“A true champion is someone who goes and wins again. A winner might be one-off. But a champion does it over and over,” Greenwood said in pre-season.
The 32-year-old believes becoming champions is a process of repeating success, rather than simply celebrating what has already been achieved. City ended a decade-long wait for the WSL title last season and also secured the domestic double under manager Andree Jeglertz.
Greenwood has described the summer as a necessary reset after carrying the demands of captaincy throughout the campaign. She said she had been able to take a longer break than usual, without a fixed schedule, and returned feeling refreshed.
“I needed a mental switch off,” she said. “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 defender also became engaged to her long-term partner, Jack, during the break. More importantly for City, she said the time away helped her step back from the constant responsibility of leading a team with high expectations.
“I’m not the kind of person to turn it all off, I’m on the majority of the time,” Greenwood said. “I reflect a lot. I needed a break, because a captain has a huge role off the pitch.”
Manchester City seek to turn WSL success into sustained dominance
City’s progress last season was built on a more flexible style of football. Their approach under Jeglertz allowed players to reinvent themselves from match to match, making the team harder for opponents to predict while maintaining the ability to win even when not at their best.
Greenwood believes the manager’s changes have been subtle but significant. The squad’s guiding principle is to “always find a way”, while Jeglertz has demanded that the players continue improving rather than settle for their title-winning campaign.
“He’s very open to challenge,” Greenwood said. “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.”
City’s challenge now is to maintain those standards across domestic football and Europe. Greenwood was frustrated to watch last season’s Champions League matches from home and said she was determined to make the most of the club’s opportunity this time.
“We weren’t there last year and we have to use that feeling to our advantage,” she said. “We cannot waste our opportunity.”
The increased demands will test City’s depth, with the team expected to cope with the rhythm of three matches a week. But with momentum behind them, a settled philosophy and Bunny Shaw already in prolific form, Greenwood insists the champions are focused on proving they are more than a one-season success.
