It was not the performance, nor the result, that had John Terry blowing kisses to the fans at the final whistle and those same supporters skipping down to Fulham Broadway shortly afterwards, but the renewed hope that this could be the start of something special. Under Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea are developing a formidable aura.

The manager gives away so little that spending time in his company can be a trial rather than a treat, but that may be his secret. Other than a couple of defensive aberrations away from home, Chelsea have become devilishly difficult to beat this season even, in situations such as yesterday, when they have not been playing particularly well. Not since Stephen Hunt scored for Hull City on a sunny day on the opening weekend of the season in August has their defence been breached at Stamford Bridge, which in playing time amounts to 872 minutes.

It is difficult to pinpoint Ancelotti’s precise contribution to Chelsea’s best start to a season since they won their second league title under José Mourinho three years ago, other than the one that matters most: results. Most encouraging for Chelsea fans is that the biggest improvement has come in the biggest games, with Liverpool and now Manchester United tasting defeat on this ground this season.

It was a failure to beat their closest challengers that undermined their championship challenge last season, with Arsenal the only “big four” rivals to be beaten, and not until the start of May when the result of the title race was almost academic. The worm has turned sharply on its head.

Ancelotti claimed yesterday that Chelsea had beaten the best side they would face this season, which, if true, leaves them in tremendous shape. For all the visiting team’s impressive workrate in midfield, they barely got a sight of goal, with an acrobatic save by Petr Cech from the outstanding Wayne Rooney midway through the second half the only occasion on which the Czech Republic goalkeeper was called into action.

That the champions and Champions League finalists could be reduced to such an impotent attacking outfit in less than six months seems extraordinary, but Ancelotti was not complaining. Given the decline of Liverpool and United, the Italian has picked a good year to come to England, and one senses he knows it.

“Chelsea did what we had to do,” Ancelotti said. “We beat a very good team, the best opponent, but we know the season is very long and we have to maintain this.

“It’s very important that we won against Liverpool and Manchester United, but we have to remember we lost against Wigan and Aston Villa. That means that every game is important, every result is worth the same.”

Ancelotti’s superb record against Sir Alex Ferguson provides another reason for Chelsea fans to be optimistic and another indication that their side will rise to the biggest occasions this season. This was Ancelotti’s fourth victory over Ferguson in five meetings, and the only time he has been beaten by the Scot — in a Champions League semi-final, first leg two years ago — the result was reversed in the return leg a fortnight later en route to AC Milan winning the trophy, which effectively makes it null and void. Not since Mourinho have Chelsea had a manager who could legitimately claim to be the scourge of Old Trafford.

Having written off Liverpool, Ancelotti is convinced that Arsenal will have a part to play in the title race, although their record in the biggest matches in recent years will hardly be giving him sleepless nights. Chelsea travel to the Emirates Stadium at the end of the month, when another victory would cement their position as strong favourites despite Arsenal having a comfortable-looking game in hand looming at home to Bolton Wanderers.

“If Arsenal win their game in hand, they’ll be two points behind and they’re doing very well,” Ancelotti said. “Until now we’ve done very well, but you have to count it up at the end of the season. Now we’re in a good position in the Premier League and in the Champions League.”

Ancelotti’s single biggest contribution this season has been the bold decision to unleash Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as an attacking force, which, although more than vindicated by the goals they have scored, also has its downside.

The resultant lack of width can make them appear one-dimensional on occasions, a flaw that allowed United to stay in the game, but Chelsea still found a way to win. Under Ancelotti, their aura is returning.