'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A place in the Capital One Cup semi-final is at stake when Chelsea play Championship side Derby County on Tuesday night. Chelsea are massive favourites going into the tie with a brilliant record against the third-placed Rams.
Not since 1999 have Derby beaten Chelsea, losing seven of eight matches in the process including last season’s FA Cup third round meeting between the pair.
Chelsea team news
Jose Mourinho insists it will be a strong Chelsea team that will face Derby, however we are expecting to see a few changes.
It is a tricky stage of the competition and combined with a tight Christmas schedule it might be worth leaning towards players that don’t start every match for this particular team selection.
The gaffer has already confirmed that Gary Cahill won’t be travelling and that Kurt Zouma will get the nod on the team sheet next to John Terry.
Injured Thibaut Courtois sits out again with Petr Cech replacing him in goal, as he did in the win against Hull on Saturday.
Cesc Fabregas is also back from suspension and should be available for selection again, meaning John Obi Mikel’s chances of a third domestic start in a row is slim.
Earlier this week Mourinho spoke about the team selection for the Derby match stating, “We don’t have problems. The players are fit, the players are not tired, the players are in good condition so no special reason not to go with a strong side.”
Derby team news
Derby are sitting third in the Championship and are in decent shape ahead of the Premier League leaders.
With four wins in their last six games, they are full of confidence despite the fact that Steve McClaren’s side were beaten by Middlesbrough just a couple of days ago.
Defender Ryan Shotton is suspended after receiving a red card this weekend, meaning that Jake Buxton will find his place in the starting eleven next to Richard Keogh in the heart of their defence. Chris Martin is Derby’s leading goalscorer in the competition after having netted five times in his last six League Cup matches.
Derby have never come further than the semi-final stage of the competition, but if they manage to knock out Chelsea they’ll be looking to win the cup for the first time.
Chelsea really should win, however it all comes down to the starting line-up. We are going for a 2-0 win.
Published with permission from ChelseaTalk.
