Andree Jeglertz described the final minutes of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton—the result that confirmed Manchester City as Women’s Super League champions—as painful. Players and staff gathered in a huddle at the Academy Stadium, ready to pop the champagne but nervously waiting. When the whistle blew the group burst into a rendition of “championes, championes, ole, ole, ole” as the long-expected victory finally became real.
This title has felt like theirs for weeks. City have led the table since November, yet the club has been haunted by near-misses: since their last championship a decade ago they have finished runners-up on multiple occasions. Jeglertz identified that history of falling short as the psychological barrier that needed to be overcome. Changing the group’s mindset, he said, was as important as any transfer or tactical tweak.
“There was one thing that I felt early with this group, of course it’s about the quality, but we had to start talking like we could win,” he told Sky Sports. “We did that back in October. The players also said we have to start talking about being good enough to win. That’s my job, to create that winning mentality.”
That shift didn’t happen overnight. It was the product of several seasons of evolution: recruitment windows, tactical adjustments and plenty of setbacks. A shock 3-2 loss to Brighton a fortnight earlier threatened to derail the campaign, and a nervy, last-gasp 1-0 win over Liverpool underlined how fragile margins can be. A sobering defeat to Chelsea on the opening day left some doubting their credentials, yet inside the camp there was an emerging sense of belief and opportunity.
What has impressed Jeglertz most isn’t only individual brilliance but the grit shown in tense moments. Late goals and scrappy wins have revealed a squad that can grind results out in different ways—set pieces, quick transitions, sheer resilience. “We’ve always found a way. Different ways to win, corners, transitions, other ways, but we always have belief. That’s the major thing,” he said.
He stressed that titles are built on collective culture rather than individual stars. How the team trains, how they play and how they interact form the foundation that makes success possible. “If you get the culture right you have possibilities,” Jeglertz said, pointing to staff, players and the wider club working towards a programme designed to win trophies.
City’s season was aided by a rare clear focus on domestic competitions. With no European football to navigate this term, the squad could dedicate themselves fully to the league and the FA Cup, with a cup double still within reach. That luxury will disappear next season as Champions League football returns, and Jeglertz acknowledges the new demands of juggling multiple competitions.
Turning this breakthrough into sustained dominance is his next test. The manager believes the squad has the potential to compete at the highest level for years, but achieving that requires maintaining standards, renewing hunger and building on the culture they have created. “It’s very easy to say that you should enjoy it but at the same time we’ve been top of the table since November and we’ve dealt with it very well,” he reflected. “Standing here today as champions shows that we did it good. We’re enjoying this moment but there is no problem to motivate the team for more. I will say that we are back.”