Former Blackburn Rovers boss Kenny Dalglish believes it will be difficult for his old club to qualify for Europe.
With talk of Rovers pushing for a European place next year after a successful end to the season, the Scot believes they should not get carried away.
"Big Sam did a fantastic job and they had no worries this year past December about staying up," Dalglish, now back with Liverpool, told the Lancashire Telegraph.
"But I just think that what he did last year was fantastic and I don't think they should go too quickly. Just be grateful for what happened last year. If they can kick on from there, then brilliant. I always hope that they're going to do well.
"Every club I've been at you want them to do well but Blackburn's a wee bit special because of what we did, and the people there are fantastic people. But I just think they've got to be a wee bit cautious. They did fantastically well and maybe punched a bit above their weight, but don't have your expectations too high.
"It's hard for every club to move forward. The next step up in the league is probably more difficult than the one below, because the competition is very strong.
"I know one thing, though. It will not be for the lack of trying, because Sam will want to kick on."