KEY POINTS:
It was almost four years ago that Sir Alex Ferguson coined the phrase "squeaky bum time", but since then there has not been much of a peep in the Premiership.
Arsene Wenger's Invincibles, with that unbeaten 38-game league campaign, were followed for two seasons by Jose Mourinho's Incredibles.
Ferguson has always regarded Christmas as the "start of the run-in". For five of Manchester United's eight titles gained under him they trailed going into the festive period before ending up in first place.
History showed that it is not always best to lead from the front. But Chelsea have been rewriting history.
Since Arsenal were overhauled in 2003, with United seven points adrift on Boxing Day before embarking on a run of 15 wins and three draws, Ferguson's belief has been an idle boast. The attempts at a traditional charge have resulted only in coughs and splutters as his team hit the vapour trails of those ahead of them.
But that has changed. In the plethora of words uttered by Alan Curbishley on his return to West Ham last week, there was a telling comment on United.
Curbishley, during his sabbatical from management, had visited his friend Ferguson at the club's training ground, Carrington, before the season started. "It was hard to put my finger on it," he recalled. "But I realised then from Fergie and the whole place that they were up for the fight."
From looking at a lead of eight points going into this weekend, United went back home a slender two ahead of the champions and the bookmakers shortened the odds on Chelsea.
If it is to be a contest of mental strength then it will be hard to look beyond Chelsea.
But, knowing that he is in a stronger position than for some time, Ferguson will relish all this. There was certainly a glint as the Scot laughed off Mourinho's jibe that Chelsea could already add another three points to their total because they will beat United at Stamford Bridge in April.
Whatever happens from now until then - and until the final-day fixtures in May - there is something to marvel at: Ferguson's appetite and ability to refashion his team as genuine contenders, a side capable of playing wonderful, free-flowing, fluid football that touches the heights far more consistently than Mourinho's awesome creation.
Maybe it is also due to Ferguson's belligerent desire to prevent the younger man matching his feat of three successive Premiership titles.
Certain factors have gone United's way, such as the astonishing re-emergence of Paul Scholes and the sustained form of Ryan Giggs. Also, crucially, Chelsea have changed formation, gearing themselves towards winning the European Cup, with the assumption that they can expect to grind out the Premiership.
They have clearly struggled to integrate the increasingly forlorn Andriy Shevchenko and, to an extent, Michael Ballack, and often appear a collection of great players dependent on individual brilliance.
There have also been some bold decisions from Ferguson, testimony to his enduring resilience and know-how, that have worked, not least the shedding of Ruud van Nistelrooy and the faith placed in Louis Saha, who has changed the nature of United's attack, providing greater variety and fluency.
But it must be remembered that, well as United have played, and despite the impetus that has been created, they have not pulled clear of the champions, who are still not firing consistently.
In the second half of last season Chelsea amassed an incredible 49 points. Ferguson must find a way to help his players to kick on.
It makes the punishing Christmas schedule - four games in 10 days - all the more intriguing. Shrewd moves in January, as well as players staying out of the treatment room, may prove decisive.
But at last it appears there is a challenge to the procession of the past three years. And that is something everyone can toast.
- INDEPENDENT
