Alex Greenwood is leaning forward, the England and Manchester City defender scrolling excitedly through Spotify. “It’s this one, isn’t it?” she asks The Athletic as Mariah Carey tells the world in no uncertain terms precisely what she wants for Christmas.
“That’s a good one,” Greenwood declares. “My favourite’s Mistletoe, by Justin Bieber.”
“Driving home for Christmas,” team-mate Lily Murphy offers beside her, igniting an impromptu sing-along on the couch between the pair.
Greenwood and Murphy are taking a break from Jenga and spontaneous hallway kickabouts with families and patients from the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, part of the club’s City Onside programme and Christmas Together campaign, to speak to The Athletic.
“I’m injured, which is frustrating, but I come here, and I say this with the greatest respect, I feel like I’m really lucky,” says Greenwood, who sustained a minor knock during England’s November international break.
“Coming here reminds me that my injury is so small compared to what these kids are going through,” adds Murphy, who injured her shoulder in September. “It makes us really grateful that every day we get to enjoy the sport that we play.”
Lily Murphy is taking part in Manchester City’s Christmas Together campaign (Manchester City Football Club)
We should be talking about the football — specifically, the fact City are top of the Women’s Super League (WSL), six points clear of their nearest rivals and perennial champions Chelsea heading into the winter break courtesy of their 6-1 thrashing of Aston Villa on Sunday.
Yet, harping on about the football hasn’t really been the reason City are top.
“I’m going to be honest — and you’re going to hate me for this — but nothing has changed for us,” Greenwood says with an apologetic smile. “We’re aware of the table, but we’re in a really good place, playing really well, our conversations within the group, within the team are as normal as they were on matchday one.”
Greenwood’s calm is arresting. “Even on the weekend (against Leicester City), I’m sat at home watching the game, and it’s 0-0 at half-time, and I’m so relaxed,” she says of City’s eventual 3-0 win. “I’m so confident that we will find a way to win and score, and we did.”
If there has been one point of difference to City this season, it can be found in the players’ supreme confidence in their abilities.
The mentality shift has been the greatest distinction. City now play with a cool, fiery conviction, grinding out results even when performances are lacking. It is an attribute more readily associated with eight-time WSL winners Chelsea. City’s appointment of former Denmark national team manager Andree Jeglertz in the summer has marked a tangible shift.
How Jeglertz would fare in his first season in England’s top flight was a matter of debate, particularly after Denmark’s disappointing group-stage exit from Euro 2025. After City finished fourth in the WSL last season, failing to reach the heights expected of them, how much would their new manager change?
But the 53-year-old has taken a subtle approach, rather than a sledgehammer.
More responsibility has been handed to 22-year-old Laura Blindkilde Brown in midfield, who has started 10 of City’s 11 league matches this season. During international breaks when squad numbers are low, Jeglertz has incorporated training sessions with some of City’s academy boys’ sides to maintain high levels of physicality. Tactically, City are less rigid and orthodox, open to adapting styles to opponents.
Striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw remains City’s top scorer — she scored her 100th goal from 120 City appearances against Villa, then proceeded to score three more — but the attacking threat is more varied. Twelve players have scored for City this season, the most of any WSL side.
“It’s no surprise,” Greenwood says. “As much as last season was really disappointing and hard to take, the talent in the squad speaks for itself.
“At the end of the season, we looked at each other in the eye and we knew it wasn’t good enough. So we started fresh this season, loads of new faces — staff and a few players — but the core was already there. The mindset was there. It was about how we’re going to get the most out of each other.
“Andree has brought in a sense of calmness and allowed players to express themselves in their own way. His door’s always open. He’s a very open guy, but on a human level as well. He wants to get to know you as a person. That’s been a massive reason for success. And you can see now that, slowly but surely, we are improving. We’ve never not believed we can achieve something with this club.”
Alex Greenwood challenges Chelsea’s Wieke Kaptein during a WSL match in September (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The 3-2 victory against Arsenal in October provides a point of reflection for the mentality shift. City twice lost their lead, and previously, they would have been expected to eventually succumb to Arsenal’s momentum. Instead, summer signing Iman Beney scored an 88th-minute winner.
“That was the moment,” Murphy says. “Arsenal are title contenders, a massive rival.
“But each game we’ve always looked like we’re going to come out the better side, even if it’s not going our way. We’ve stuck together, we’ve competed really well. We’re always looking to get that result each game, and that’s showing up throughout the team.”
It is still a long way to go until May, and City have been here before, weeks away from the finish line in the 2023-24 season, firmly in front, only to suffer defeat at the hands of Chelsea on goal difference on the final day.
But this feels different, and City will be different in the new year. Brazil winger Kerolin’s recent recovery from a “lower body injury” is a huge boost, as will be the return of Greenwood. More signings are expected in January.
For now, Greenwood and Murphy are feeling calm, relishing the present, as they have for most of the season.
