Have focused mutual funds lost the plot? Why you should not count these as part of core portfolio

During the relentless market uptick of the past two years, several equity fund categories made smart gains. However, the performance of focused funds was underwhelming. If focused funds are not delivering outsized returns in a market upswing, does it mean these have failed to live up to their billing? What role can they play in your portfolio? The entire premise of focused funds is built around the potential for achieving superior outcomes from