After another weekend of cutting criticism, Chelsea's stop-gap manager Rafa Benitez achieved a measure of vindication with Monday's FA Cup victory over Manchester United.
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Pilloried for resting players for Saturday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Southampton, Chelsea's interim coach put all his Easter weekend eggs in one basket by gambling on a refreshed squad being able to book a spot in the semi-finals of the Cup.
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Thanks to Demba Ba's stunning volley and Petr Cech's astonishing save from Javier Hernandez, Chelsea pulled off a 1-0 win in the quarter-final replay to leave two trophies hovering tantalisingly on the horizon.
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With two words almost perfectly designed to provoke debate among Chelsea's fractious fanbase, Benitez declared they were in the midst of a "great season".
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While the Spaniard's critics will point to their inconsistent league form that has left them in a three-way battle for two Champions League qualifying spots, Benitez has some justification.
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They remain in the Premier League's coveted top four, will play an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City with either Wigan Athletic or Millwall awaiting the victors, and have a winnable Europa League quarter-final against Rubin Kazan to come.
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Not bad for a club that has spent much of the season tearing itself apart from inside, with fans protesting on the terraces and a pall of gloom hovering over Stamford Bridge like the persistent English winter.
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What would London rivals Arsenal, without a trophy since 2005, give to be in their position?