Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with hat-trick hero Mauro Icardi's impact in Wednesday's 5-0 Coupe de France win after a month out with injury.
Icardi marked his first start for PSG in a month with a treble as they swept aside Angers to qualify for the Coupe de France semi-finals.
The Argentine, who spent last season on loan at PSG from Inter before signing permanently, has endured a difficult season impacted by injury.
"I'm glad Mauro scored three goals tonight," Pochettino said. "Anytime he's on the pitch, he has the opportunity to score.
"He's coming back from injury, I'm very happy with what he did."
Icardi has battled the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Moise Kean and Angel Di Maria for a regular spot when fit.
Pochettino would not be drawn on whether Wednesday's hat-trick would help the Argentine's cause in a bid to start in Saturday's Ligue 1 clash with Metz.
"We will see Saturday who will start," Pochettino said.
"It is always difficult for a player to suffer from muscle damage and to be held back by health problems. Even more so in a season of difficult circumstances like this."
Icardi's goals take his season tally to 11 in all competitions, having made 21 appearances.
"I felt confident," Icardi said. "I'd already scored against Saint-Etienne and I was very confident that I could come back after a tough injury hit year.
"I'm slowly getting back to form and scoring goals is always important for strikers."
Hazard 'bit sad' with Chelsea decision to sack Pochettino
Eden Hazard "was a bit sad" to see Chelsea part company with head coach Mauricio Pochettino after just one season in charge.
Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent last week after a trophyless campaign and a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
Chelsea great Hazard, who spent seven years at Stamford Bridge, believes the former Tottenham boss deserved more time.
"I was a bit sad," he told talkSPORT. "I think he did a great job. I know people want Chelsea to be in the top four but it’s a season of transition.
"He's a great manager. I wish him good luck and let's see who is going to be there in the future."
Chelsea are reported to have whittled their shortlist to four names - Thomas Frank, Kieran McKenna, Roberto De Zerbi and Enzo Maresca
However, Hazard cheekily suggested that former Chelsea team-mate Cesc Fabregas could be an option for the Blues.
Fabregas is working as an assistant manager with Italian side Como and helped guide them to Serie A promotion this season.
Asked about possible contenders for the job, Hazard said: "I have my friend in Como. He can be the first manager."
'We cannot replace him' – Mbappe departs PSG 'filled with joy'
Kylian Mbappe says he is leaving Paris Saint-Germain with his head held high but Luis Enrique does not expect to replace his star forward.
Mbappe announced this month he would leave the French capital at the end of the season after a seven-year stay during which he became their all-time top scorer, with 256 goals.
His last game for Luis Enrique's side came in Saturday's Coupe de France final at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, with first-half strikes from Ousmane Dembele and Fabian Ruiz securing a 2-1 win against Lyon.
"It was both difficult and enjoyable because it's a final, and in the end, we won. It's filled with joy," Mbappe told reporters.
"It's all good memories, many years, both at PSG and of course in this league. We leave with our heads held high, especially with a trophy, and we only keep the positives."
Mbappe has been heavily linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Asked why he had not announced his next club yet, the 25-year-old said: "Because I think that the best thing to do is to finish these goodbyes.
"I think all I wanted was to finish well with my club. There's a trophy. I think there's a time for everything.
"I'll announce my new club in due course. I think we're just a few days away, so there's no problem."
PSG head coach Luis Enrique says there will be no single replacement for Mbappe, placing the focus on the entire team.
"I have had the good fortune to coach Kylian this season, it has been a difficult one for him after seven years at his club and all that he has achieved, it is difficult to say goodbye," Enrique told a news conference.
"There is no substitute for Mbappe, we cannot replace him, we will do it through the team and four, five or six signings we can make.
"Kylian's replacement will be the team that, along with the fans and our ambition, will try to win everything in the following seasons."
Lyon 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain: Mbappe fails to score but Ligue 1 champions clinch Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain beat Lyon 2-1 in the Coupe de France final courtesy of first-half strikes from Ousmane Dembele and Fabian Ruiz.
Making his final appearance for PSG, the club's all-time record goalscorer Kylian Mbappe failed to get on the scoresheet at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Saturday.
Yet it mattered not as PSG sealed a domestic treble in Luis Enrique's first season in charge, winning the Coupe de France for a record-extending 15th time.
Dembele put PSG ahead after 23 minutes when Nuno Mendes' cross found him unmarked in the six-yard box to coolly head home.
Midfielder Ruiz doubled the advantage with a strike from a tight angle at the second attempt.
Lyon pulled one back 10 minutes into the second half thanks to Jake O'Brien's towering header off a corner, before PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a superb save minutes later.
PSG had to withstand late pressure, but ultimately got the job done as Mbappe signed off with another trophy.
Data Debrief: Mbappe moves on
Mbappe will bow out with 256 goals in 308 appearances for PSG across his seven seasons at the club since joining from Monaco in 2017.
He has won all there is to win domestically, though the Champions League has evaded him.
With Real Madrid seemingly his next destination, Mbappe will surely break that duck in the Spanish capital.
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