Paul Caffrey has warned the Dublin footballers that it will be very hard for them to repeat their All-Ireland success because they no longer have the good wishes of the country behind them.
Dublin ended a 16-year wait for an All-Ireland title when they defeated Kerry in a thrilling final last September, a victory that was celebrated by many counties outside Dublin.
That support is no longer there and Caffrey believes there will be a different attitude towards Pat Gilroy's men this time around now that they are the defending champions.
"I don't know whether the players have realised it, but the love-in that was there last September is well and truly gone," the former Dublin manager claimed.
"I see other teams now really upping the ante, big time, and we all know how hard it is to win back-to-back AllIrelands.
"In my own Na Fianna days, before we had won the Dublin title, everyone was saying Na Fianna were lovely fellas. Once we won we were hated.
"That's not a word I use lightly either but there is just a different intensity towards you when you're champions.
"The next year it's always harder to do it again and even more so when it's the All-Ireland. Dublin will find that and they are finding it out all ready."
A greater physical battle could prove difficult for Dublin to deal with mentally and Caffrey is worried about the side's discipline could suffer.
"My fear is just how these guys are going to cope, physically, with what's coming at them and the little lack of discipline, fellas taking swipes back when they're getting hard hits," he added.
"This is going to impact hugely on the mentality in Dublin. The feel good factor is well and truly gone now towards Dublin. It's back to, as I used to say, 31 against Dublin."