Gary Cahill will be rested for Chelsea's Capital One Cup quarter-final against Derby after defender's diving controversy 

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Gary Cahill has been taken out of the line of fire by Jose Mourinho, who will rest the defender who was accused of diving for Tuesday night's Capital One Cup quarter-final at Derby.

Hull boss Steve Bruce accused Cahill of simulation - 'like something out of Swan Lake', the Tigers boss said - following Chelsea's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Bruce felt Cahill should have been shown a second yellow card.

The England centre-back will be replaced by Kurt Zouma for the trip to Derby, even though Blues manager Mourinho has vowed to field 'the best possible team'.

Gary Cahill escaped a second booking against Hull despite this dive which caused controversy

Hull manager Steve Bruce claimed Cahill's dive was 'like something out of Swan Lake'

Jose Mourinho insists he is resting his centre-back because he played him against Sporting last week

'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.'

It is a decision which may have been taken ahead of the diving storm when Chelsea had Diego Costa and Willian booked for simulation.

Cahill is due a rest as he was not one of the six players switched out of the side for last week's Champions League match with Sporting Lisbon.

Two Chelsea players, Diego Costa (above) and WIllian, were booked for diving during Saturday's win

Young defender Kurt Zouma will replace Cahill for the Capital One clash against Derby on Tuesday night

But the timing is convenient for Mourinho, who last season lambasted Luis Suarez for an 'acrobatic swimming pool jump' as he railed against simulation in English football.

He also insisted 'there are no divers at Chelsea' following Oscar's booking for simulation at Southampton on January 1.

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 January 4.

'I don't think one player is going to play these six matches,' Mourinho 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.'

Chelsea boss Mourinho will give his players a couple of days off this week ahead of the Christmas period

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,' Mourinho 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 Premier League leaders' win over Hull with a minor muscular injury, so Petr Cech is poised to continue in goal.

Petr Cech is likely to stay in goal for the Derby clash with Thibaut Courtois having missed Saturday's win

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).'

Chelsea won 2-0 at Derby's iPro Stadium last season in the third round of the FA Cup and will next face familiar opposition in the Champions League, too.

The Blues were drawn against Paris St Germain in the last 16, with the first leg at the Parc des Princes on February 17 and the return on March 11.

It sees David Luiz reunited with Chelsea, who edged last season's quarter-final on away goals.