AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati is worried the team may struggle to keep hold of the Scudetto next season.

The Italian who played 35 times as the first-choice goalkeeper during the 2010-11 campaign, believes the heat will be turned up by increased competition from challengers to the Serie A crown.

“For us it will be very difficult to retain the title, as for the rest, it is always hard to repeat success,” the 34-year-old said, according to La Repubblica.

“All the other teams have been strengthening their squads, and so we all start on the same level.

“We have to start well from the first game of the season.”?

Milan won their 18th league title last year after finishing six points ahead of city rivals Inter.