Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini has insisted that he needs time to turn the club's fortunes around.

The 50-year-old returned to San Siro for a second spell in November, but he has failed to lift the Nerazzurri away from mid-table in Serie A.

Despite the team's struggles, Mancini believes that patience is the key to getting Inter back to the summit of Italian football.

"I'm a coach and I accept criticism, but I believe projects go beyond three or four months and I'm in charge of a team that finished sixth, ninth and fifth in the last three seasons," he told the club's official website.

"You need to consider the work we've done in a larger context. I've been coaching for a number of years and I know how to deal with criticism when it comes."

Inter are back in action on April 4 when they host Parma in the league.