Juventus coach Antonio Conte has called on Italian soccer to get its house in order or risk becoming a lost giant of European soccer, following its quarterfinal exit from the Champions League to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Juve was outclassed during a 2-0 first-leg defeat to the newly-crowned German champion last week in Munich and despite a far better performance in Turin on Wednesday the host fell to another 2-0 reverse.

Conte, a former midfielder with the two-time European champion before leading the club to its 28th Scudetto in his first season in charge last year, said on Tuesday there was a huge gap between his side and big-spending Bayern.

After second-half goals from Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro sealed the Bundesliga side's place in the semis for the third time in four years, the 43-year-old Conte took aim at Italian soccer in general.

He said it was time for Italy's clubs to start generating the finances needed to compete on a level playing field with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern and Manchester United.

If not, Juve could go the way of one of European soccer's strongest side in the 1970s, Dutch giant Ajax, which has struggled to get back to Europe's top tier over the past two decades.

"Given that two years ago we weren't even in the Europa League, I have to congratulate my players for getting this far," said Conte.

"They've worked really hard to make a mark in this competition over the past two years.

"They (Bayern) were simply stronger than us and we can only congratulate them. When you're playing against one of the strongest teams in Europe it becomes difficult for everyone.

"But playing Bayern was a good opportunity to see where exactly we are compared to the big boys in Europe. Where are we, what's missing and how do we remedy it?

"We have to look elsewhere, to Spain, to England and to Germany to see what lessons we can learn.

"But if you have the money, you can buy (players) and win. Otherwise, it takes a lot of patience. The way things are right now, I don't see any Italian teams winning the Champions League for the next several years."

Inter Milan in 2010 was the last Italian team to win the Champions League but since then no Serie A side has made the final four of Europe's premier club competition.