David Moyes has said that Andre Villas-Boas deserves success as their sides prepare to meet this weekend.
While some considered the 33-year-old a surprise choice to take the reins at Chelsea this summer, the Everton boss acknowledges that his achievements at Porto - winning the Portuguese Supercup, Primeira Liga, Europa League and Portuguese Cup - are impressive credentials.
"[Villas-Boas] deserves to be at a big club because of what he did at Porto," Moyes told a press conference.
"If you get to cup finals and win leagues and you are that successful, then you deserve the opportunity to get a big job and he has got one at Chelsea. He knows the situation, he has been there before and he earned his stripes at Porto.
"He is a student of the game, he has been around it, he found himself a job at Porto and made it look easy, but that is because of the hard work he has put in."
Everton travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, when they hope to attain a sixth consecutive game unbeaten at the venue.