Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini insists Italian football is on an upward turn.

But he has urged Inter fans to be patient.

“The decline of Italian football? Inter is the team with the biggest attendance, that's an important stat. In Spain they have the two best teams in the world [Barcelona and Real Madrid] and in recent years Atletico Madrid have come in there.

“Italian football has to wait, Inter won the last Italian Champions League in 2010, Juventus got to the final last year.

“We lost the four places to get into the Champions League, and then we maybe snubbed the Europa League.

“I think we're on track. When a cycle finishes it can take time, and there can be some mistakes too."