Carlo Ancelotti challenged Chelsea to win every one of their last nine Premier League games after they beat Manchester City to go third.
The champions left it late before sealing a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge which lifted them above their opponents into third place and moved them to within nine points of Manchester United with a game in hand.
Anything other than a victory almost certainly would have killed off Ancelotti's men but, with their next five league games coming against sides in the lower reaches of the table, they now have an ideal opportunity to pounce on further United slip-ups during the next month.
"We have nine games to play and we have to do our best," said Ancelotti.
"We have to try to win every game.
"Manchester United won on Saturday so the gap's the same.
"Now there'll be an international break. When the players come back, I'd like to see the same spirit and attitude."
For 77 minutes, Chelsea were in real danger of dropping out of the title race as they struggled to break down a stubborn City side.
But David Luiz capped another virtuoso display by earning and scoring from a Didier Drogba free-kick before fellow Brazil star and former Benfica team-mate Ramires wrapped up the points.
"Luiz and Ramires, fantastic performances and fantastic goals," said Ancelotti.
"Ramires, in particular. He's improving very well.
"Luiz's goal was a surprise. Defensively, he worked with fantastic tempo for a long time and his performance was really good."
Ancelotti admitted Chelsea benefited from facing a City side who were forced to play most of their Europa League match against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday with 10 men.
He also shrugged off the latest goalless outing from record signing Fernando Torres, whose drought for his new club passed the eight-hour mark.
The Spaniard looked bereft of confidence whenever he got within shooting range but Ancelotti said: "He doesn't have to lose his confidence.
"We have to be patient, and so does he. The goal will arrive."
Despite all his strikers enduring long runs without scoring in the league since Torres' arrival, Ancelotti revealed he would persist with his rotation policy.
The Italian also appeared relaxed about earlier comments on his future from chief executive Ron Gourlay, who said: "Let's see where we are at the end of May, then we'll judge the coach and other people at the football club."
Ancelotti, whose contract expires next year, said: "I'm happy in this moment, so I think we will continue."
But he added, before producing a 'cut-off' gesture: "If one party - the club or myself - is not happy to continue, I think we'll have to...
"I know very well that this team slept for two months and, in that moment, I had fantastic support from the team.
"A lot of coaches that sleep for two months, at this moment, are at home watching the game on television. I am here - fortunately."
The defeat all but killed off City's own slim title aspirations and also cast doubt on their top-four credentials.
"If we had won or drawn, probably it would have been fantastic but now nothing changes and in this moment we have eight games until the end," said City boss Roberto Mancini.
The visitors' hopes of getting a result were hurt by Carlos Tevez failing a late fitness test on a groin injury.
The Argentina striker has been the scourge of Chelsea since joining City.
"Tevez is a good player but also (Edin) Dzeko and (Mario) Balotelli are good players," added Mancini, who dropped the latter to the bench following the moment of madness that saw the forward sent off on Thursday.
Assistant manager David Platt refused to expand on reports of a bust-up between Mancini and Balotelli after the Dynamo game, saying: "What happened on Thursday happened on Thursday. He remains part of our squad."
Chelsea later confirmed they were "looking into" allegations City's players and referee Chris Foy were the victims of a laser pen attack during today's game.
