Forced into a tie, the point difference between Chelsea and Manchester United widened to eight points. With eight rounds left in the league, these eight points were not easy to make up.
The only good news for Mourinho was the competition for the final eight rounds. Manchester United would be hosting Nottingham Forest in the thirty-third round, followed closely by the thirty-fourth round where Manchester United would play against Chelsea in an away game.
These two games had a bearing on the survival of both teams. If Manchester United could score two consecutive wins, then Manchester United's points advantage would widen to eleven points with four rounds left and Chelsea would almost only have a chance of winning in theory.
But if Manchester United lost to Nottingham Forest and then to Chelsea, then the point difference between the two teams would likely to narrow to two points. An outcome of a game would lead to Chelsea's turnaround.
