Chelsea's 40-game unbeaten run in the English Premier League ended on Sunday after a 1-0 loss to Manchester United.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is convinced that doesn't mean his team will lose the title, however.
Darren Fletcher scored with a looping first-half header to give Manchester United a victory that moved the Red Devils up to third in the standings. But the team still has 10 points to make up on Chelsea, which last lost in the league to Manchester City a year ago.
Despite the loss at Old Trafford, Mourinho is not exactly panicking even though his team, beaten 1-0 at Real Betis in the Champions League on Wednesday, has now lost two in a row.
He saluted his players for creating so many chances in the second half that they could have won the game instead of falling to their first league loss of the season.
"We didn't deserve to lose this game," said Mourinho, whose team now leads second-place Wigan by six points instead of nine. "Today we showed why we are champions and why we are top of the league. I believe that there is no problem for us. I am not afraid for the future.
"In the same way I give [Manchester United] credit. I hope they can realize why Chelsea are champions, top of the league and I believe will be champions again.''
Chelsea's runaway start to the season, winning the first nine games to leave its big rivals well behind, had led to dismay that the English league had lost its competitive edge. But the 67,864 fans packed into Old Trafford were on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Ruud van Nistelrooy sent an easy chance over the bar and Wayne Rooney saw a goalbound shot beat the goalkeeper but bounce off a defender.
When Chelsea had the Manchester United defense creaking in the second half, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar dashed off his line to block Frank Lampard's close range shot and Chelsea defender Asier del Horno volleyed over the bar while unmarked.
"It was a fantastic game -- a magnificent spectacle," said Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, whose team appeared in crisis after a 4-1 Premier League loss to Middlesbrough followed by a 1-0 Champions League defeat at French club Lille.
"For the first hour we were terrific and then, until the last five minutes, we were under the cosh. They threw everything at us and that's what champions do."
Ferguson bristled when reminded that his team appeared to be in disarray during the buildup to the game with injured team captain Roy Keane criticizing teammates for the slump.
"We once went 13 games without winning. There's always pressure here," said Ferguson, whose future after 19 years at the club appeared in doubt. "Winning is always important here. How you handle yourself and compose yourself is important. I think the players and staff have shown great dignity despite the criticism leveled at them."
Hoping to rebound from the defeat by Betis, the Blues could have been two goals up before going behind to Fletcher's header.
Didier Drogba expertly controlled a long through ball from Lampard but his hurried, angled shot was blocked by Van der Sar. Left back Del Horno was left alone at the far post when Damien Duff swung over a free kick from the right only to shoot wide of the post.
As if stung by those two close shaves, Manchester United put together two standout moves and went ahead.
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