Carlo Ancelotti insisted Chelsea are still in the title race despite watching them throw away two vital points in a 3-3 draw with Aston Villa.
But the Blues boss admitted Sunday afternoon's result, which left his side outside the top four, means they must beat Manchester United in March to stand any hope of retaining the Premier League crown.
Failure to see off Villa left Chelsea marooned in fifth place, six points behind United having played a game more.
While a slip-up from their unbeaten arch-rivals in not impossible, it is highly unlikely Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham will all press the self-destruct button.
Ancelotti said after Wednesday's ugly win over Bolton that Chelsea's title defence would have been over had they failed to end their worst run of league results for 11 years - but he was defiant on Sunday.
"It's not over because we are improving and I think that we can say something again this season," he said, pointing out United had to win their game in hand to go nine points clear. "First, they have to win. Second, I think that the gap is not a light gap at this moment. But everything is open again.
"Obviously, we have to beat them here, and we can say something again about the title."
Sunday's result put Ancelotti's position under fresh scrutiny after Wednesday night's ugly 1-0 win over Bolton had eased the pressure on the Italian.
At least Chelsea avoided defeat, a prospect that looked highly likely six minutes from time against a Villa side that had largely outplayed them.
Trailing 2-1 after Ashley Young's penalty and Emile Heskey's header had cancelled out Frank Lampard's spot-kick, the home side thought they had won it when Didier Drogba and John Terry found the net.
Terry's goal sparked wild celebrations as Chelsea's players mobbed Ancelotti, but the joy was short-lived as Ciaran Clark levelled in stoppage-time.
Ancelotti said: "I think that we had a fantastic reaction second half, we played very well, with a lot of energy, with a good spirit.
"And when we thought that the game was won, we lost two points at the last situation.
"For this reason, I'm disappointed because at this moment, when we needed to win, it was our fault because I think we were not able to maintain concentration until the end."
Ancelotti denied his players had paid for over-celebrating, saying: "I think that it was not over-celebration. It was a good reaction after the goal.
"The last goal, yes, it was a mistake, because we conceded an easy cross and we didn't mark in the box."
He also played down an argument between Terry and Drogba at the final whistle, saying: "Everything is okay."
Brad Friedel hailed the fighting spirit of his Villa team-mates as they twice came from behind.
The draw follows on from defeats at the hands of Tottenham and Manchester City, and Friedel hopes it can spark a move away from the drop zone.
"It's a massive point," he told Sky Sports 1. "We've been in such a bad run of form we needed something and it's great to get it at Stamford Bridge.
"We went down 3-2 and all credit to the lads. We've got over what I thought was a poor penalty decision against us at the start and we've fought back and hopefully this will kick-start our season and we can get back up the table."
Clark, Heskey and Young returned to the Villa side on Sunday, along with other recent injury victim Richard Dunne and Friedel hopes their problems in this area are finally over.
"We had a few long-term injuries back in the side today and when you're on a poor run you have to draw a line under it at some stage," he added.
"We showed today we've got a lot of fight in us and we're going to have lot of fight in us for the rest of the season.
"There was a different feel about us today. We showed a lot more determination, they brought wave after wave of attacks in the second period but all in all we're going to go away pleased with a point and hopefully now we can get a win against Sunderland."
