AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has praised forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the striker's first-half hat-trick in the 4-0 demolition at Palermo.
The Swedish frontman scored three goals in 14 minutes on his return from a three-game suspension as the Rossoneri moved three points clear of Juventus at the top of Serie A.
"Ibra is doing great things," Allegri told the club's official website. "He's in a rich vein of form. The three-match ban did him good.
"This is an important stage of the season. We're getting closer and closer to our goals and, if we're not to let them slip away, we'll have to continue to play with high concentration levels and most of all play well."
Ibrahmovic's three goals took him level with Udinese's Antonio di Natale at the top of the Serie A scoring charts and the 30-year-old also spoke of his happiness.
"I'm very happy," he said. "After three matches out, the game went very well both for me and for the team. We're playing at our best at the moment with a lot of confidence.
"We're playing the way we want to and we're always dangerous up front."
Milan's next game is a trip to Arsenal where they will defend an ominous 4-0 lead from the first leg.
Pascal Lemesre
