Chelsea
boss Jose Mourinho says defender Gary Cahill will be rested for Tuesday
night’s Capital One Cup quarter-final at Championship side Derby.
Kurt Zouma will stand in for Cahill but Mourinho says he is not planning to
rest any other first-team regulars.
Mourinho told Chelsea TV: “We have no reason to rest people, everybody goes.
We're going to play against a top team in the Championship.
"The difference between a top team in the Championship and the teams of the
Premier League are very, very small. We played there last year and it was
not an easy game.
“The only one that is not going, because he played against Sporting (Lisbon)
and I never gave him a break, is Cahill.
"Cahill doesn't play, I play Zouma.”
Cahill was accused of simulation by Hull manager Steve Bruce after
Saturday’s Premier League clash, in which Diego Costa and Willian were both
booked for diving.
However, the England defender was due a rest in any case as he was not one
of the six players who were taken out of the side for last week’s meeting
with Sporting Lisbon.
Chelsea are now facing a run of six fixtures in 19 games which culminates in
an FA Cup tie against Watford on 4 January.
Mourinho said: “I don't think one player is going to play these six matches.
Every one of them has to go to five, one rest I think I have to give them.
"We did that against Sporting, we gave a rest to some players, and we're
going to do this from now until the end of the month.
"We have two days off, which is the two days after Derby, which allows the
players to go home.
"Maybe not, for sure, the South American ones, because it's very far, but
the ones around England, Belgium, France, Germany, two days off.
“They have the chance at least to go and have a nice dinner with their
families.
"It's the only two days I can give them. We play Tuesday against Derby, I
give them Wednesday and Thursday, after that they are back Friday to play
Monday."
Petr Cech is set to remain in goal for the Derby game as Thibaut Courtois is
likely to be given more time to recover from the minor muscular problem
which caused him to sit out the 2-0 defeat of Hull.
Cesc Fabregas is available after suspension but his fellow midfielder
Ramires is not yet ready to start following a groin problem.
Mourinho said: “Ramires is being a champion, fantastic professional, step by
step, working hard, always available for the team.
"He's not ready to start a game. He comes to the bench and every time we
can, we give him a little bit."
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