Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca told Cole Palmer he should have scored another couple of goals despite his record-breaking haul against Brighton.
Palmer produced a breathtaking first-half display at Stamford Bridge to become the first player in Premier League history to score four goals before half-time in a single game.
Opening his account in the 21st minute, the Englishman then scored from the spot before bending a superb free-kick into the top corner to bring up his hat-trick.
A fourth, assisted by Jadon Sancho, came just before the break, as the Blues saw out the second half to make it three league wins in a row to move inside the top four.
While lauding his mentality, however, Maresca insisted he will always demand more from his prodigious attacking talent.
‘I just said to Cole, he scored four but he could have scored two or three more,’ the Chelsea boss said of Palmer who also hit the post and had two goals ruled out in a chaotic first half. ‘It is important he continues to be hungry and ambitious.
‘I know Cole from many years ago. I had him for one entire season at City and then the first team. The best thing he has is the way he is today as a boy, he was exactly that way two or three years ago.’
Maresca continued: ‘Today in football, young players change very quickly. They score one goal and they think they are already.
‘Cole has scored many goals, and many assists, he is a top player but he has never changed. This is the most important thing.’
Reflecting after the game, Palmer was in agreement with his boss that he could have walked away with a few more goals under his belt.
‘I should have had five or six!’ he told Match of the Day
‘When I missed the first chance I was upset but with the way they played and their high line I felt we’d get more chances.
“The manager set up a good game plan, we knew how to attack them with first-time passes in behind. I try and play every game the best I can.’
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