The quarterfinals of the 2014-15 Football League Cup sees 1st in the Premier League take on 3rd in the Championship as Chelsea journey to Derby County on Tuesday evening. The sides go into this match as 2 of the form sides in their respective divisions, with both winning 4 of their last 6, seeing Chelsea top of the Premiership and Derby the Championship, albeit it no longer after the most recent weekend's round of fixtures with Boro having overtaken them with a 2-0 head-to-head win on Saturday. As a result, both sides will be coming into Tuesday's clash full of confidence, and each with every chance of booking their place in the semifinals next month.










The pair find themselves in this stage of the competition courtesy of a pair of wins under slightly differing circumstances. Derby ran out big 5-2 winners against fellow Championship side Fulham, while Chelsea surprisingly just scraped past 4th-division outfit Shrewsbury Town courtesy of a 48th-minute strike from Didier Drogba and an own goal Jermaine Grandison 9 minutes from time.
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The last meeting between the sides came just shy of a year ago, in another domestic cup tie, albeit it the FA Cup. The Blues ultimately, though far from easily, triumphed 2-0 courtesy of a pair of goals within 5 minutes of each other from Mikel to open the scoring on the afternoon just under 25 minutes from time, and Oscar soon after to wrap things up for the visitors.










Jonathon Moss, who last officiated for Derby in their 2-1 loss at the hands of Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in November of last year and for Chelsea in their thrilling 6-3 victory over Everton at Goodison Park in the beginning of the season, has been appointed referee for Tuesday's clash.
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Doing very well in the Championship are these. Will be a very difficult match that I can see going either way, especially with the team we're likely to put out. This is precisely the kind of game we just beg to eff up in.

Gary Cahill rested for Capital One Cup tie after diving row:
Gary Cahill has been removed from the firing line for Chelsea’s Capital One Cup quarter-final against Derby County on Tuesday night in favour of Kurt Zouma
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11294707/Chelsea-news-Gary-Cahill-rested-for-Capital-One-Cup-tie-after-diving-row.html

“I will pick the best possible team.”

“We have no reason to rest people, everybody goes. The only one that is not going is Cahill, but that is only because he played against Sporting Lisbon last week. So I will play Kurt Zouma.”

“You feel Diego played against Hull with happiness in his legs, no problems, no fears. Running, chasing, looking for movement, pressing opponents.”

“I think in this moment it’s the first time after his injury that we can feel what we still don’t feel about Ramires. Ramires is being a champion: a fantastic professional. Step by step, working hard and always available for the team.
“But still on the break, you can see Ramires sprint, making a movement like before, but he’s in trouble. We are giving him what time we can, 10-15 minutes off the bench, because we need him and we are waiting for him. He is not ready to start at Derby.”

— Mourinho, via the Telegraph
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Video of Chelsea's weaknesses is five seconds long, claims Derby boss Steve McClaren before Capital One Cup clash:
Chelsea are such a complete team that a video of their weak points only lasts five seconds, according to Steve McClaren
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2874724/Chelsea-s-weaknesses-five-seconds-video-claims-Derby-County-manager-Steve-McClaren-ahead-Capital-One-Cup-clash.html

"We played them in the FA Cup and it was strong then. From a year ago they have improved immensely."

"Mourinho’s addressed the areas he thought were a problem, up front and then Matic and Fabregas in midfield: so strong mentally and physically."

"They are so much better. We did a video on the weaknesses on their team and it lasted about five seconds."

"They have only lost once this season and then they ran out of time (against Newcastle). They are the best team in the Premier League and arguably the best team in Europe."

"We have to perform at our best to stay in the game and have a chance of achieving our dream result. I want to see how our players perform – have we moved on from a year ago? Because Chelsea have."

"But they will have to be at their best. Mourinho will respect us and appreciate that. That will reflect in the team he picks. We don’t expect any favours."

Chelsea players will receive some strong words from me if they dive, says Derby captain Richard Keogh ahead of Cup clash:
Chelsea’s players have been warned they will receive a verbal lashing from Derby County captain Richard Keogh if any of them try diving to win a penalty
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2875140/Chelsea-players-receive-strong-words-dive-says-Derby-captain-Richard-Keogh-ahead-Cup-clash.html

"I stick up for my team-mates, I stick up for the club. McManaman went over quite easy in the box and I let him know it wasn’t acceptable. As a player it is quite frustrating."

I'm sure they'll be shaking after hearing that tale. #bigshot #toughguy
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Mourinho: Chelsea will not take risks in winning the League Cup:
José Mourinho insists he will not risk crashing out of the Capital One Cup by fielding a weakened team against Derby County tomorrow evening
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/547125/Jose-Mourinho-Chelsea-Derby-County-League-Cup-win-news

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Derby were a strong team then and they are a strong team now."

"This is a cup match, a quarter-final, big motivation for them and we have to equal that motivation so our bigger talent can win."

Cheers for the links Shed!

I almost forgot this was on tonight

The links?

Shed wrote:The links?

The news/headlines

Oh that. Surprised anyone even read any of it


But cheers

CHELSEA XI: Cech; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Mikel, Matic; Schurrle, Fabregas, Hazard; Drogba

DERBY COUNTY XI: Grant, Christie, Buxton, Keogh (c), Forsyth, Hughes, Mascarell, Bryson, Russell, Martin, Dawkins

SUBS: Roos, Hendrick, Naylor, Coutts, Calero, Best, Ibe


SUBS: Schwarzer, Ivanovic, Ramires, Willian, Salah, Remy, Diego Costa

That's a strong side. Stronger than I expected.

Coludn't care less about this comp its for teams like Liverpool to have a chance at a trophy.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!


Hazard

Having to follow it on twitter as my internet is being a pos

Rebelles.REUS.rex wrote:Coludn't care less about this comp its for teams like Liverpool to have a chance at a trophy.

Don't agree at all. A trophy is a trophy is a trophy.

Cesc

Cech takes out Happy.

Coming off for Iva.

That doesnt look good at all, I hope its atmost a Concussion.