Cuper accepts blame

HECTOR CUPER has accepted that bringing on forward Domenico Morfeo for the final 10 minutes may have cost his side two points after Internazionale's 3-3 draw with Roma.

Cuper's decision to substitute Turkish star Emre with another attacking player rather than bringing on defender Marco Materazzi was greeted with bemusement from the stands - with Inter leading 3-1 at that stage.

Indeed, late goals from Christian Pannuci and Vincenzo Montella earned Roma a share of the points that left Juventus five points clear at the top of the Serie A table.

"Emre had played 90 minutes with his national team and I noticed that he was tired," said Cuper after the game.

"I decided to bring on Domenic Morfeo.

"Obviously in retrospect it is easy to say that perhaps the most appropriate course of action would have been to bring on Marco Materazzi.

"We are five points behind Juventus but we will not give up - we have no choice about that.

"We must look to restore the team's morale before we look to Valencia."