Chelsea have lost three of their last four league games and were beaten 2-1 by Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last night. But McCarthy likened the current scrutiny that Villa-Boas is under to the spotlight being focused on Arsene Wenger earlier in the campaign before he revived Arsenal's fortunes. And he also rubbished the theory that the 34-year-old is too young to manage in the Premier League. McCarthy, whose side visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday, said: "Look what Villas-Boas achieved in Portugal. You don't achieve that unless you are good. "He is good but he has come into a different team that is changing. If he is as good as everyone thinks he is, let him get on with it, but it takes time. "People think you can just turn up because good players are there and it's an easy task, but it's not. It takes time to mould a squad and get them to play your way and maybe get your own players in. "Some people wrote off Arsenal and Arsene Wenger eight games ago and how ridiculous does that look now. They are now the only English team guaranteed to progress in the Champions League." As regards the Chelsea manager's age, McCarthy said: "I suppose no-one was talking about his age when he won what he did in Portugal. "Anyone who has achieved what he has must have something about him. He's had the confidence in his own ability to come to England and work here. "He speaks wonderful English and has a great command of the language and he seems like a bright, clever bloke." Speaking about Saturday's game, McCarthy added: "We are going to go there to try and make it difficult for them and if we achieve a positive result, so be it. "But they will view it as an opportunity, against a side fourth from bottom, to get back on track." Striker Kevin Doyle will be assessed on Friday after withdrawing from training on Thursday with a knee problem. McCarthy is already without the suspended midfield pair of Jamie O'Hara and Stephen Hunt, plus right-back Richard Stearman (broken wrist). Ronald Zubar is poised to start in place of Stearman in what will be his first senior action for nine months. He played the opening 45 minutes of the midweek reserve game against Arsenal after recovering from long-term back and groin injuries. McCarthy said: "Zubar came off as a bit of a precaution after 'rocking' his ankle, but we expect him to be okay for the weekend."
