Carlo Ancelotti insists Chelsea are ready to snatch Premier League glory from under the noses of Arsenal and Manchester United after shaking off the disappointment of their European exit.
Chelsea's title rivals remain in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and Blues manager Ancelotti believes the physical and mental energy expended by Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson's teams could work in his own side's favour.
Arsenal boss Wenger claimed that Chelsea's exit from Europe has already mentally affected them. Ancelotti initially agreed with the Frenchman's assessment but remains confident that Chelsea could benefit physically from Arsenal and United's continued participation in the Champions League.
United will face Bayern Munich on Tuesday and then welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford four days later, and Ancelotti is hoping to make the most of any United fatigue - either mental or physical.
"I agree with Arsene," said Ancelotti. "Mentally, it wasn't good for us to go out of the Champions League. "But after the victory against Portsmouth, this moment is finished. We have to look at every game. We play Aston Villa tomorrow and then have a week to prepare for Manchester United.
"That could be an advantage for us. Before, we had midweek games. We are disappointed to be out of the Champions League, but it could be an advantage.
"The quarter-finals will take out a lot of energy, not only physically but mentally. We can take advantage of that if we prepare well our own games, and if we play with good tempo, a good high tempo.
"The pressure is the same for all the teams now. We are arriving towards the end of the season and every game is very important. The pressure is normal at this stage of the season."
Before they face United, Chelsea must overcome a Villa side chasing a place in the top four, who beat the Blues 2-1 earlier in the season.
Ancelotti is determined not to let his players get too carried away with the battle looming at Old Trafford. "United will be an important game, but it's for three points," said Ancelotti. "We have to think about the Villa game, not the United game.
"The last time we played Villa we lost, so we want to do different tomorrow. For me, now, the most important game is tomorrow. Not United.