"Things are different," Julio Cesar explained. "We never do the same exercises during training and so everything is more varied.

"I also think that we are more solid in defence and that is incredible when you remember that most of our defenders are injured.

"However, we have always had a strong back line and we didn't concede much last year."

The Nerazzurri No 1 was characteristically modest when asked to compare himself to Juventus' Gigi Buffon.

"I don't like to talk about myself and I expect others to judge me for the good and the bad things I do," he said.