There is a question that has followed Manchester City into every season they have dared to dream big in women's football: can they genuinely compete on two fronts at once? Early evidence from this campaign suggests Andree Jeglertz may be closer to answering it than any of his predecessors.

City have won every Women's Super League fixture so far this season and are yet to taste defeat in Europe. That is the kind of start that lifts eyebrows — and expectations. Yet Jeglertz himself is measured. "It's an OK start. It's not ideal but it's a good start," he said after draws against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the Champions League league phase. "We know what is needed from us for the rest of the tournament."

Rotation working in City's favour

What stands out most is that Jeglertz has not once named the same starting eleven across those fixtures. The Swedish head coach has shuffled his pack deliberately and, crucially, it has not cost City their rhythm. Of the 16 goals they have scored in the WSL this season, ten have arrived in the second half — three of them in stoppage time. That is not luck. It speaks to a squad that carries a threat from the bench every bit as sharp as the one it starts with.

The numbers back it up. City have recovered six points from losing positions in the league — more than any other side. They came from 2-0 down to draw at Bayern Munich and came from behind to level with Real Madrid. Key figures such as Kerstin Casparij, Khadija Shaw and Yui Hasegawa have all clocked fewer minutes at this stage than they did at the same point last season, suggesting Jeglertz is keeping something in reserve.

Substitutes have delivered moments that matter. Beth Mead provided an assist off the bench against Birmingham City, and Casparij scored with her very first touch after coming on against Arsenal. "Andree is really clear with us," Casparij said. "It allows me to play my game, trust my instinct and play with a lot of freedom."

The weight of history

City's past tells a cautionary tale. During the 2019 and 2020 WSL seasons, when they finished runners-up to Chelsea, they could not advance beyond the last 16 in Europe. When they pushed deep into continental competition in 2021, the toll showed in the seasons that followed — they dropped to third and then fourth in the league and fell at the qualifying stages of the Champions League. They do not want to travel that road again.

The squad did make only three signings across the summer, retaining the core that delivered a first WSL title in a decade under Jeglertz last term. Several players — including Vivianne Miedema, Sydney Lohmann, Rebecca Knaak and Risa Shimizu — are still working their way back from injury, and USA international Sam Coffey picked up a knock in the win over Arsenal. Managing that injury list while maintaining two demanding campaigns will be the real test of the club's depth over the months ahead.

Hemp sets the standard

Lauren Hemp has been in electric form and is already making her impatience with anything less than victory plain. The England international described the Champions League draws as "not our standard" despite acknowledging the quality of the opponents City have faced. It is that mentality — the refusal to settle — that has defined City's campaign so far.

Jeglertz knows the challenge will only intensify. Four more league-phase matches remain in Europe, and the WSL season is barely five games old. The noises out of the City camp are positive, and the evidence on the pitch supports the optimism. But this is precisely the kind of start that flatters before the fixture list gets truly unforgiving. How City cope when the margins narrow will define whether this season belongs in the club's recent history as triumph — or as another reminder of how thin the line is between glory and overstretch.

Frequently asked

How have Man City done in the WSL this season?
Manchester City have won every Women's Super League game so far this season and lead the table, scoring 16 goals with ten of them coming in the second half.
How are Man City getting on in the Women's Champions League?
City are unbeaten in the Women's Champions League league phase, drawing with Bayern Munich after coming from 2-0 down and drawing 1-1 with Real Madrid. They have collected two points from two games.
Why have Man City struggled to compete in both the WSL and Champions League before?
In previous years, pushing deep into European competition appeared to take its toll on City's domestic form. After strong continental runs, they dropped to third and then fourth in the WSL and fell at the qualifying stages of the Champions League in consecutive seasons.