Frank Lampard believes Guus Hiddink can mastermind an incredible late charge for the Premier League title.
Manchester United are seven points clear but Chelsea head to Portsmouth on Tuesday believing it is not too late to topple the champions.
Since Dutchman Hiddink came in as temporary manager Chelsea have won three successive matches and are playing with the sort of zest which might yet prove a threat to United.
Chelsea have beaten Villa away and Wigan at home in the league and defeated Juventus in the Champions' League.
Lampard's late winner, controversial in the eyes of Wigan boss Steve Bruce, could not have been more vital.
"United have got a big gap but it is nice mentally to be back in second position and you never know what is going to happen," said Lampard.
"All you can do is win your games, deal with yourselves and see what happens.
"Guus has made a huge difference to the team. He has made a massive impression in a short time.
"The main difference is that he has made life simpler, saying the right things and getting us to work hard on the training ground.
"Tactically he has worked hard to get us better organised but I think as much is down to the players.
"We must take responsibility. It is just such a shame that we have allowed a gap to open up at the top.
"It is Guus's decision what he does in the summer when his agreement with us is up so let us hope the next three or four months go well and we can persuade him to stay."
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Hiddink may recall Jo Bosingwa in place of Michael Mancienne after completing a ban but Mancienne - one of the very few to break into the first team having come through the Chelsea youth system - made a solid debut against Wigan.
With Middlesbrough surprisingly beating Liverpool, Chelsea's opponents Portsmouth badly need a win to ease their relegation fears.
England striker Peter Crouch, an international colleague of Lampard's, is vowing to score the goals to get Portsmouth out of trouble.
Since his forward partner Jermain Defoe was sold to Tottenham, Crouch has found form elusive and has not scored in the league in 2009.
Before Defoe left for Spurs, the pair had scored 21 goal together but goals have dried up for Crouch.
"When Jermain was here we knew how we would play, formed an understanding and got a few goals," said Crouch.
"But we have got good players here now and I can play with someone else.
"We lost Jermain and Diarra in the transfer window and it was bound to have an effect. But we have plenty of quality still here.
"It is up to me to score the goals to keep us in the league. I am confident I can."
Paul Hart is temporary boss at Fratton Park and since he took control, Portsmouth have picked up four points from two matches to keep the club out of the relegation places.
"Chelsea are going to be a massive challenge. They seem to have found a new lease of life since Hiddink came in," said Hart.
"But our lads have settled down again after the upheaval of losing Tony Adams and a couple of excellent players and they are determined to cause an upset."
Hart and coach Brian Kidd have to decide if Crouch plays as a lone striker or if David Nugent should be given another chance to replace Defoe.
Nugent, a 6million pounds signing from Preston by Harry Redknapp 18 months ago, failed to score under Redknapp.
But, given his chance first by Adams and now by Hart, Nugent has responded with three goals and produced some stirring performances.
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