Jose Mourinho will select a strong Chelsea side out of respect to high-flying Championship team Derby County when they meet in the quarterfinals of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
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Only rested England defender Gary Cahill will not be considered for selection at Derby while playmaking maestro Cesc Fabregas is expected to return from the one-game suspension that saw him miss Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Hull City.
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“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,” manager Mourinho told the club website (www.chelseafc.com) on Monday.
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“It is a sign of respect for Derby, it is a sign of respect for the competition because I don’t think this cup deserves other things than we always show for the competition.
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“At this moment we don’t speak about any other competition, we just speak about the Capital One Cup. It is a difficult opponent and we have to go with a strong side.”
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Premier League leaders Chelsea return to the iPro Stadium where they beat Derby 2-0 in the FA Cup third round in January.
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John Obi Mikel and Oscar were on target that day but Mourinho said his side would not takeSteve McClaren’s attacking team lightly.
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“Derby were a strong team then and they are a strong team now,” Mourinho added. “This is a cup match, a quarterfinal, big motivation for them and we have to equal that motivation so our bigger talent can win.”
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Derby, beaten in last season’s playoff final, are third in the Championship, one point behind Bournemouth and Middlesbrough.
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