Jose Mourinho has revealed that he will rest Gary Cahill for Tuesday night's Capital One Cup quarterfinal at Derby.
Hull boss Steve Bruce accused Cahill of simulation following Chelsea's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and feels the defender should have been shown a second yellow card.
The England centre-back -- whom Mourinho defended following Bruce's accusations -- will be replaced by Kurt Zouma for the trip to Derby, even though the Portuguese coach vowed to field "the best possible team."
"We're going to play against a top team in the Championship," Mourinho told Chelsea TV. "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.
"We have no reason to rest people. Everybody goes. The only one that is not going because he played against Sporting [Lisbon] -- I never gave him a break -- is Cahill.
"Cahill doesn't play -- I play Zouma."
Prior to the Hull contest, Mourinho insisted none of his players would be ever-presents over the congested Christmas schedule.
The Derby match is Chelsea's fourth fixture of December and they now play six games in 19 days until their FA Cup third-round tie with Watford on Jan. 4.
"I don't think one player is going to play these six matches," Mourinho had said. "Every one of them has to go to five, the ones that play more they have to go to five. One [game] 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."
Mourinho will afford his players rest following the Derby match, with Chelsea's next game the Premier League contest at Stoke next Monday.
"We have two days off, which is the two days after Derby, which allows the players to go home," he had added. "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."
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is unlikely to be risked after missing the league leaders' win over Hull with a minor muscular injury, so Petr Cech is poised to continue in goal.
Playmaker Cesc Fabregas is available following suspension but Brazil midfielder Ramires is not yet ready to start following a groin problem.
"Ramires is being a champion, fantastic professional, step by step, working hard, always available for the team," Mourinho added.
"He's in trouble. He's not ready to start a game. He comes to the bench and every time we can we give him a little bit [more]."