Manchester United could be back at the summit by the time Ancelotti's men kick-off against Stoke next Sunday after Sir Alex Ferguson's men defeated rivals City then saw Spurs win 2-1 against the Blues.

The results also mean Spurs are back in the Champions League places, with their victory over Arsenal in midweek backed up with goals from Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale, while Chelsea had John Terry dismissed before pulling one back through Frank Lampard.

"We had a problem with soft defence," said Ancelotti.

"We didn't put pressure on the ball. Lampard scored at the end but when we lost Terry it was impossible to recover the game with 10 against 11."

Chelsea know they will win their first title since 2006 if they defeat Stoke, Liverpool and Wigan.

"We know what we have to do in the next three games," Ancelotti said.

"We must not have a panic now. We are top of the league with only three games left so every team wants to be in our place.

"We have two at home and one difficult game away. We can be the best again. A one-point lead is not bad at this stage of the season.

"I am always confident. I am less confident than yesterday but we are still in the best position."

Ancelotti made his final two substitutions at half-time before Didier Drogba pulled up with an apparent groin problem just before the restart.

"Didier never said anything at the end of the first half," the Italian added.

"He had a problem but after five minutes he was good to play to the end of the match without a problem. Now he doesn't have a problem."

Ancelotti also refused to comment on whether he thought Terry's dismissal, for fouls on Roman Pavlyuchenko and Bale, was harsh.

"We are disappointed because we have lost John Terry for the next game but I don't have to say anything about the decision," he said.

"Everyone is under pressure at this moment. He is the captain and involved in this exciting race."

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Spurs boss Harry Redknapp praised his players after following up their midweek win against Arsenal with a victory over another title challenger.

"They were well-deserved wins," he said.

"We were the better team again, there was no doubt about that. We created all the chances and deserved the points.

"The Man United result went our way tonight but you have got to take advantage of that. We had to make sure we won to get the benefit.

"It's a difficult task beating Chelsea, not many teams manage to do that."

Redknapp feels the race for fourth will go to the wire.

He added: "I still think it's going to be close. Villa and Liverpool have it all to do to catch us but certainly Man City have still got a great chance. We have still got to go to City."

Of Terry's handball, which led to Defoe's penalty for the opener, Redknapp said: "I thought it was harsh - but I thought we should have had a penalty before that. But in fairness look at the chances we missed."