Roberto Mancini has warned Inter Milan are close to rediscovering their best form as they enter the final six games of the Serie A season.Mancini's side consolidated their four-point lead at the top of the table with a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-man Atalanta on Sunday.

Patrick Vieira gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half with a powerful header from a corner before 17-year-old Mario Balotelli made the points safe 16 minutes from time.

And after the game Mancini warned the best was yet to come.

"We played a good game at a tough ground and against a side in good shape," Mancini told Gazzettta dello Sport.

"It was a bit like old time as the boys are getting back to their best. We're still not quite there yet but still we played a great game and gave nothing away.

"The important thing is that the lads have kept themselves ahead for another week and put some fuel in the engines. Because of that I'm optimistic and I think we can get even better yet."

Controversy surrounded the opening goal after Atalanta coach Luigi Del Neri claimed his defender Maximiliano Pellegrino had been fouled by Vieira as the Frenchman ran in to head the ball.

Mancini, however, thought otherwise.

"Patrick went for the ball and the other guy got in his way," he said. "They ran into each other and the defender fell over. I don't see any foul."

There were calls for offside in the second goal too, but there was no taking away from Balotelli's cool finish for his first Serie A goal.

"We're happy for Mario. He's a young lad who has a lot of quality," said Mancini.

"When you're that age you're carefree, you don't think about the game so much - you just go out there and enjoy yourself. He's done that and done it well."

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