Emma Hayes says she can't wait to see Sam Kerr reach "100 per cent" after seeing her score a Champions League hat-trick while not fully fit.
The Australian superstar lifted Chelsea after a poor first-half performance by scoring three of the Blues' four goals, including a sensational first-time edge-of-the-box lob in the second half.
Sophie Ingle rounded off a 4-1 win late on, but Paris FC were dangerous after giant-killing wins over Arsenal and Wolfsburg in the qualifying rounds.
Hayes predicted her striker would make an impact, revealing after the game: "I fancied her to score a hat-trick tonight. I said it to Paul [Green, my assistant] in the dressing room before the game," the Chelsea manager said at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
"I don't know anyone who just puts the ball away like she does. She really is so alert and decisive with her movement.
"With the third goal, when she lobbed it, that's brilliant centre-forward play. She needed the run of games. The run of games got her to that [hat-trick].
"You have to be mindful that a calf injury is about fatigue and the calf getting tight. It is about progressively carefully managing it.
"Wow, if that's her at 80% then I'll take that every week. That's not bad and I can't wait for the 100% version."
Chelsea remain unbeaten in all competitions, with Hayes' end-of-season departure to join US Soccer not yet proving a distraction.
Half-time substitute Fran Kirby helped transform the match, with the scores still level at half-time, and Hayes revealed the midfielder is another who still needs for fitness managing for club and country.
"I rated Paris and felt there was a lot of work you must do out of position over 90 minutes. I felt it might be too much for Fran," Hayes added.
"I said this to Sarina [Wiegman, England manager] this morning — it is so important that we keep her healthy for both Chelsea and England."
Millie Bright, though, continue to be "nowhere near" fit enough to play, and there is a real prospect she could withdraw from the England squad to face Netherlands and Scotland in early December.
Chelsea next face Leicester City on Sunday, a team Hayes describes as the "most aggressive team in the league".
