Cuper: Inter as good as Real? Not yet!

Inter Milan are top of Serie A, having only dropped two points from their opening eight league matches, a record that prompted club President Massimo Moratti to compare his side to Real Madrid.

"We are playing better and better, but to compare us to Real is a little exaggerated," said the Argentine on Friday. "The last two games have been very good, but we're just working and we have a long way to go, yet."

Such is the attacking force of the Milan club, Cuper could afford the luxury of resting Italian international Christian Vieri on Wednesday night as Inter managed to knock four goals past Empoli in a thrilling display of attacking football that ended 4-3 to the guests.

However, with Fabio Cannavaro likely to start on the bench when Inter play Udinese on Saturday evening Cuper will ask more from his defenders:

"It was very satisfying to see a game of such quality, but when we play badly I want a reaction from the players and Inter Milan cannot afford to concede three goals at Empoli."

Inter's cross town rivals AC Milan met Udinese on Wednesday night, running out 1-0 winners courtesy of a deflected Rivaldo free kick in the 88th minute and Cuper is not taking the match lightly, despite meeting Ajax Amsterdam in a crucial Champions League game on Tuesday night, a match he described as 'one of the most important matches of the year'.

"I admit that Udinese played very well on Wednesday, especially in the midfield, but we have had a lot of games already this year... It will be a difficult match."