Chelsea have found an upturn in form at exactly the right time to save Graham Potter but there is still a way to go before fans will be truly happy. The 3-1 win over Leicester made it a trio of victories for the week as pressure lifted but it's not time to ease off just yet.
With one more game before the international break there is positivity flowing around the club for the first time in months. A connection has been made betweens fans, new players and Potter plus there is the tantilising prospect of a Champions League quarter-final to look forward too.
The top four still looks a long way off but the form of Liverpool and Tottenham has given added hope that something miraculous could yet happen. Manchester United are in third at 13 points ahead of the Blues in 10th, so there is a healthy body of work to be done, but momentum is a strange thing.
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It is the European nights that will now take priority but with wins comes confidence and the big Chelsea squad will be hopeful of taking advantage of the situation as they attempt to lead themselves towards a respectable finish.
The gap to the top four is currently 11 points, albeit with a game in hand over Tottenham, but Brighton, Newcastle and Brentford all have their own games to make up too. With a tight battle for Europe set to take place in the run in, here's the toughest five games left.
Brighton (H) - April 15
Although it is arguable that Newcastle are a tougher prospect than Brighton, Potter and his side will be desperate to get revenge for their 4-1 loss to the Seagulls earlier in the year.
Roberto De Zerbi's immediate success has embarrassed the riches and the struggles at Stamford Bridge so trying to get one back over Brighton would be something to aspire to, at least.
Liverpool (H) - April 4
In a game that few would have seen as a mid-table battle, Chelsea and Liverpool meet shortly after the international break with both sides aiming higher up the table. The Reds have recovered to sit in sixth but are still yet to find top gear, meanwhile Chelsea have put together a small patch of form.
With Jurgen Klopp's side likely to be in and around the final group pushing for the top four, getting a win here is a must.
Manchester United (A) - April 22
One of the major issues with what is a tricky last dozen games for Chelsea is that they are still yet to beat a top half side and they face seven of the nine teams above them in that run.
The 0-0 draw to United earlier in the season was part of a barron spell that would mare the pre-World Cup feeling but Erik ten Hag's side's recovery since then has seen them emerge as favourites to finish behind the two title challengers. Chelsea have a bad record at Old Trafford in recent years but Potter himself has already tasted victory there this season and this would be quite the feather in his cap if another win could be secured.
Manchester City (A) - May 20
Chelsea have precedent for deciding titles even when they aren't one of the teams gunning for top spot. In 2016 they helped Leicester lift the trophy by drawing to Tottenham in the Battle of the Bridge whilst their win against Manchester City in 2020 handed Liverpool the league too.
With both City and Arsenal to play in the last dozen games, they could have a big effect on the title race as well as the top four chase too.
Arsenal (A) - April 29
The meak 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in October was not the performance of a Chelsea side that fans felt connected to. Here they have a chance to get one over their rivals and to put a serious dent in their title hopes. With ambitions of qualifyig for Europe it would be a true statement if the Blues could push through a result at the Emirates Stadium.
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