The Blues' players could be forgiven if retaining the championship was the last thing on their minds just over two months ago when they were languishing outside the top four and in danger of failing to qualify for next season's Champions League.
They were also on course to drop 18 points behind United when they trailed the leaders 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on March 1. But coming back to win that game has sparked a run of 25 points from the last 27 that saw them slowly reel in United, whose defeat at Arsenal on Sunday blew the title race wide open.
Incredibly, Chelsea will travel to Old Trafford on Sunday knowing victory would put them back on top of the table with just two games remaining. Captain Terry said: "I always believed.
"Through the season, you have good spells, some not so good spells and some bad patches as well. There was no doubt we'd have a bad one and it was about coming out of that as soon as we could.
"It took us a few weeks to do that but, once we did, we've shown a turn of form at the right time. All we could do was keep winning and putting the pressure on."
Source: PA
Source: PA