AFC Bournemouth travel to the capital on Sunday, to face a Spurs side who have had an up-and-down season so far and come into the game wounded by a 1-0 defeat in the Europa League to AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.
Previewing the game, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think we have to be very, very good if we want to get a result.
“If we are normal, we are going to lose. We have to be very good.
“We have been very clear on this.
“To win in this kind of scenario against the players we are going to face is a big challenge for us.
*(Image: Richard Crease)*“We have to start strong because it's a team that normally starts well the games, a high pressing team, they don't give you time for nothing.
“So, you have to start really switched on and I hope we are at that level because for me the game is going to be a high level game.”
The Cherries come into the Spurs game after an eight-day break, having previously played three games in one week.
In that period, Iraola’s side were beaten by Wolves and Brighton in the league, before enacting revenge on Wolves by beating them in the FA Cup after a penalty shootout.
Asked about the benefits of such a break between games, Iraola said: “I think we needed some rest, especially the ones who played. Because it was a week where we played three games, one of them with 10 players.
“The last one against Wolves, 120 minutes.
“Some of the players played all, I'm thinking of Milos Kerkez, he finished dead the other day, Tyler [Adams], Hilly [James Hill] coming from an injury, having to play quite a lot of minutes.
*(Image: Richard Crease)*“I think we needed some first days of rest, but it has been the normal preparation, a normal week and we try to prepare well the game, we'll see on Sunday if it works.”
On the mental recovery needed after such an intense period culminating in the dramatic cup victory, Iraola said: “Yes, I think that's the lovely part of the cup.
“I think there are different feelings in cup competitions.
“We experienced the good side the other day and you feel relieved, you feel excited, the draw, different feelings.
“But now, as we said, we have to forget until the break, we have to forget about the cup and focus on these two games we have against two very good teams.
“And after these two defeats, I think we need points. We know it's going to be difficult, but we have to go and try to get them.”
The Cherries travel to Spurs on Sunday, March 9, kick off at 2pm.