Fulham boss Roy Hodgson fears heightened expectations will work against them this season.
Hodgson led the club into European competition last season but the Cottagers' boss said: "With clubs like Fulham, if you do very well one year you make a rod for your own back.
"We finished in a qualifying place last season which was excellent. But the chances are we won't finish as high up this season.
"And people will regard that as failure.
"Our Europa League clash with Roma showed how far we have come.
"But clubs like Fulham often do worse when they have qualified for Europe. I remember this happening when I was at Blackburn."