If lightning is to strike twice, then we are in for some title race.
Twelve months ago, Antonio Conte was left wondering what an earth to do with a Chelsea side smashed to smithereens at Arsenal on September 24.
We know what he did by the summer.
The Premier League trophy is sitting in a cabinet at Stamford Bridge as evidence.
If he finds a way to beat the Manchester City side that blew his Blues away on Saturday to the title, however, it will rank as an even bigger achievement than last season’s success in his debut year of English football.
In fact, it will rank as a superior achievement to any of Conte’s Italian titles at Juventus, where he clinched three.
City right now are the Terminator of 21st century football — the bigger, badder, more brutal upgrade that just will not stop.
Up against this fearsome display of firepower, Chelsea looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger from the original Terminator movie — scary once, but now seemingly low-tech by comparison.
Even without Sergio Aguero and Benjamin Mendy, the visitors were able - easily - to find a way past the parked Chelsea bus.
Man of the Match Kevin De Bruyne struck the winning blow to give Pep Guardiola his first win in eight games against the Londoners.
Despite the Sunday newspapers' headlines, it wasn't just all about him either.
Chelsea could not cope with the speed of Raheem Sterling, the skill of Leroy Sane, the power of Kyle Walker, the guile of David Silva.
The threats came from everywhere.
Tellingly, despite the success of his title-winning tactics last season, Conte went defensive — trying to contain rather than compete with Guardiola’s Galacticos.
Just like last September, after Arsenal scored three times in 29 first-half minutes, the Italian was left wondering how on earth he will bring this particular monster to it’s knees.
Offered the crumb of comfort that he held off all-comers with Juve, it cut no ice.
“That was a completely different situation.” he said: “I was expecting a really strong challenge from AC Milan, but instead they sold Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain. So they became weaker.
“It wasn’t simple the second time, but it was easier. Here, from last season to this season, you have big teams – and now they are bigger.”
That’s another part of the problem for Conte. It isn’t just City.
Jose Mourinho has always won the title in his second season at a club. His Manchester United recorded their fourth 4-0 Premier League win in just seven top-flight games at the weekend.
Then you have Spurs.
Another clean sheet [in a 4-0 at Huddersfield]. Another footballing drive-by. Another emphatic statement that Mauricio Pochettino’s side are here to stay.
No statement, however, has been bigger so far than Saturday's at the Bridge.
This season, City have beaten Liverpool 5-0, Feyenoord 0-4, Watford 0-6 and Crystal Palace 5-0.
This result topped the lot.
To go to the home of the champions and answer all of the questions about their supposed leaky defence, the impact of losing two key players and whether Guardiola’s idealism could really triumph under the microscope? Brilliant.
No wonder Conte was left fearing he is going to need an even bigger response than he found last year.
“Last season, we did a really great job,” said the Chelsea boss. “We won the league against a really strong team — because Man City last season also was a fantastic team. Now after, I think, a great transfer market, they have improved a lot now.”
Guardiola perhaps didn’t quite understand the questioning when asked for his thoughts on big teams changing their tactics to cope with his serial thrillers.
“Let me give us credit for what we have done,” he said. “I don’t see the team tired, I didn’t see the team... I think we did many, many good things.”
They did indeed.
Which is why credit for his side will not be short supply along with anticipation.
Let’s not make the same mistake as we did with Chelsea twelve months ago, however.
Arnie, remember, came out on top in the Terminator movies.
This title fight is shaping up to become everything it has promised and more.
PrakashMoktan
Chelsea should have retained Costa and must reinforce its ageing midfield this winter.