While speaking after Chelsea's 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday evening, Maurizio Sarri said Alvaro Morata needs to overcome his 'fragile' mentality if the Chelsea striker is to match the likes of Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero in the scoring charts.
The 26-year-old Spaniard scored twice in this 3-1 win, but should have secured his hat-trick in stoppage time when left one on one with goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, as he tried to chip the Palace goalkeeper, who denied him the match ball.
'He is a little bit fragile, from the mental point of view', Sarri said afterwards.
'Alvaro has improved in the last month. Improved for the confidence, improved for the personality, improved also from the technical point of view. Now he is able to play more with the team.
'But I think, also, that Alvaro has a very great physical and technical potential, so I think he can improve more.'
On keeping up with Kane and Aguero, Sarri continued: 'For Alvaro, the goal has to be a consequence. He has to play for the team, with his mates, without thinking about goals. Goals are usually consequence of teamwork.'
Chelsea moved into second in the table behind Manchester City with this win. Sarri also equaled a Premier League record by extending his unbeaten start in the top flight to 11 matches.
'The record is not one of the coach, but of the team,' Sarri said. 'I was lucky. At the beginning, we knew very well that there was a gap (to City). There was a gap last season, 30 points.
'I hope to recover almost all the gap, but I don't know. It's very difficult to recover 30 points in six months, but we are trying.'