Grace Clinton is grateful she has had a quieter build-up to the new season than the one she experienced last summer.
The midfielder was part of a dramatic deadline-day swap deal which involved her England team-mate Jess Park and Manchester's two clubs. Clinton left United to join City while Park went the opposite way to sign for United.
While the move was a successful one in terms of trophies – Clinton finished the season as a Women's Super League title-winner and with an FA Cup winner's medal – her campaign was fraught with frustrating injuries.
She made 12 appearances in the WSL but started just two games, with one goal and assist to her name. Clinton admits last season was her toughest to date but, with a full pre-season under her belt and back in training after a niggle, is hopeful the injuries are behind her.
"I moved to Man City, pre-season was done and then I was injured," Clinton tells Telegraph Sport . "As a new player, you're coming into a completely new environment that is quite overwhelming and then you're injured, it was tough.
"It was a bit stop-start, it was hard to get into a rhythm and a flow. Obviously, it was an amazing season and it was amazing to be around such a competitive environment. That's where I want to be, winning titles, but on a personal level it was really tough mentally.
Clinton signed for Man City last year but her involvement was limited by injury - Getty Images/Andrea Southam
"Football is such a mental game. I was up and down and that was tough. It was the first time I've suffered injuries. It was unusual for me. I don't really get niggles and stuff so that was definitely a mental challenge.
"I learned so much from that time and I'm grateful for all of that because it's made me a better person and a better player because of it."
Clinton believes being around a winning environment was an invaluable experience despite missing chunks of the season through injury, but the biggest lesson she learned during her spell on the sidelines was how to deal with the mental challenge..
Clinton won two domestic trophies with City last season, including the Women's FA Cup - Getty Images/Jack Thomas
"It taught me a lot of mental resilience and it taught me that, no matter what happens in the future, I know I can get through it.
"You can get through anything and it shows you the support network that you have around and just how much I want to get better. I think that's the difference between not making it and making it in this game because the levels are so high."
Clinton comes across as an extremely relaxed and laid-back individual. She rarely shows signs of nerves, is easy to talk to and usually has a smile on her face. There was an instant hype around her when she broke into the England team in 2024 but she appeared to take that in her stride. But given her limited game time last season and the fact she was left out of the last England squad in June, there is a need for Clinton to make an impact this term. For a player who shows no outward signs of feeling pressure, it is intriguing to know whether she feels it inwardly.
"It's a good question," she ponders. "Obviously I am human so I do feel a lot of emotions and I would say I'm a very emotional person.
"Off the pitch I am very calm and stuff but when you see me on the pitch, I play with a lot of passion, I play with a lot of raw emotion. Sometimes I could probably control that a bit better.
"I do feel nervous for games but I think I'm not generally a nervous person in the games because it doesn't serve me much purpose. I don't benefit from that.
"I think probably the most nervous I've ever been was for my first England game because it was like 'wow, this is my introduction to international football.'
"But when I step on the pitch I'm genuinely good at just channelling everything out and just trying to just be on the pitch and do what little Grace loved to do."
During our interview City manager Andree Jeglertz can be overheard saying how he believes Clinton will be like a new signing for the team this season and having that backing from her manager is important for the midfielder.
Despite limited game time, Clinton did score three goals in all competitions last term - Getty Images/Nathan Stirk
"I do appreciate the reassurance, I'm that type of player and I like to know what he wants from me and I like to deliver that for him. It is nice to hear those things and it just gives me more fuel to show up for him."
Clinton was part of the Lionesses squad that won Euro 2025 but there is growing competition in the midfield places ahead of next summer's World Cup. England manager
Sarina Wiegman said Clinton needed more consistent minutes for City when she was omitted from her squad for June's games against Spain and Ukraine.
"It's every kid's dream to play in a World Cup and represent the country at that level," Clinton says.
"I think in football you can only focus on the next thing and it's too far away to be thinking about it.
"It's probably in the back of people's minds but right now it's about doing everything I can for City and improving every day as that's what will bring results."
