Inter Milan president Erick Thohir has urged the club's fans to remain patient and not to expect immediate success following his takeover from Massimo Moratti in October.

Thohir took over Inter after the side had finished ninth in Serie A in 2012-13, but has said that the first target is to get back into the top four, rather than win the scudetto.

"Compared to last season the team has improved," the Indonesian told Republika in his homeland. "But the target remains fourth and I think that's plausible for us this season.

"I urge the fans to be patient - a business is not built in a few months. We're going to have to wait a few years. You only have to look at the model franchise in America to see that."

Inter are currently fifth in the league, five points behind Fiorentina.