Mancini: Inter need time to rebuild

Inter coach Roberto Mancini says the club need time to rebuild if they are to become title-contenders once again.

The Nerazzuri, without a Scudetto since 2010, have endured a frustrating campaign, with Mancini installed in November after previous coach Walter Mazzarri managed just 16 points from their first 11 matches of the season.

Though they are set to miss out on Champions League football once again, Mancini says he is convinced president Erick Thohir will eventually put together a side that can end the dominance of Juventus, who are set to claim their fourth consecutive Serie A crown - but he warns it will take time.

"We have to grow. I have seen a lot of improvement,” Mancini told La Repubblica.

"The president is driven and positive. He is well aware that it takes time to build a team and that difficult times are part of [the process].

"He is not like us Italians, who only think about winning the Scudetto tomorrow. Our objective must be to start something that can lead to winning the Scudetto. Everybody must get this into their heads.”

Inter come into the weekend ninth in Serie A, thee points behind fifth-placed Sampdoria and Italy’s final Europa League slot.