Manchester City and England defender Alex Greenwood has reflected on a challenging yet ultimately rewarding year in her career, opening up about the physical and mental struggles she faced at the start of 2025 before returning to the top of the game.
Greenwood Opens Up on Difficult Start to 2025
Despite Manchester City enjoying an outstanding 2025/26 season, the year began far from ideal for Greenwood. Injuries and persistent pain threatened to derail her campaign and even cast doubt over her availability for the Women’s European Championship.
Speaking to Manchester City’s official website, the defender admitted she did not expect to be selected for the tournament and was unsure how her body would respond after undergoing two surgeries.
“I had no idea what the rest of the year would be like. I didn’t think I would be able to qualify for the European Championship,” Greenwood said.
“I had to have two surgeries and I was in a lot of pain—something I had never experienced before in my career. Until May, I still didn’t feel good about myself, and it took a lot of perseverance to try to qualify.”
European Championship Success With England
Greenwood explained that the difficult months were ultimately worth it, as she went on to play a key role in England’s European Championship triumph. However, she admitted the journey tested her resilience, both physically and mentally.
“Fortunately, it was worth it. I won’t say it was easy, because it wasn’t,” she added.
“There were many moments when I thought about giving up, letting my body recover properly and ending my participation in the European Championship, because it was so close.”
The title added to Greenwood’s impressive international résumé, which includes two Women’s European Championship titles and two Finalíssima victories with the Lionesses.
Key Figure for Manchester City
Since joining Manchester City in the 2020/21 season, Greenwood has established herself as a guaranteed starter and one of the leaders in the squad. Her return to full fitness has coincided with a resurgence for the club.
After finishing fourth in the 2024/25 Women’s Super League and missing out on Champions League qualification, City responded with significant investment and smart recruitment ahead of the current campaign.
The results have been immediate. Manchester City are enjoying a strong 2025/26 season, leading the Women’s Super League with 30 points—six clear of second-placed Chelsea—as Greenwood continues to play a central role at both club and international level.
Her reflections underline a year defined by perseverance, recovery, and ultimate success at the highest stage of women’s football.
