Iraola has a good track record of taking teams deep into cup competitions, having taken Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey in Spain.
He will be hoping to match that achievement with the [Cherries](http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/) this Sunday.
Asked what those two semifinal runs taught him, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I've learned, even from my playing career, I think the cup competition is about the soul, the collectiveness of the team.
“I think the way you play this competition is a little bit different. The extra time against Wolves, the penalties. When you are tired, you have to give extra.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ “For me, the way both teams play is different because, when you concede, you are out of the competition.
“It's not like we will have a chance next week, no, no, you are out, so you have to start risking. And then it becomes like a different competition. And I really like it.
“I enjoy it and I hope we have the competitive level to make the game balanced and then arrive to those small things and play until the end.”
This weekend’s game gives the Cherries the opportunity to make history and reach the FA Cup semifinals for the first time in their history.
They have reached the quarterfinals twice before, losing to Manchester United in 1957 and to Southampton in 2021.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ Asked if he will use that potential history to motivate his side, or if he has tried to keep this week’s training as normal as possible, Iraola said: “No, I'm not a manager of big speeches.
“I don't do these 15-minute speeches talking about the motivational things. I think sometimes you can use small things, but I focus more on the things that we need to achieve those things.
“What happens on the pitch and the City week normally is tactically a super demanding week for us.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ “We have to prepare for 12 different scenarios because they have so many different structures they can build up in a different way. So we've been focusing more on the things that we expect.
“We have to be ready also to adapt during the game because it always happens against City. You have to be ready to change a lot of times during the game and we've been working on these things.”
AFC Bournemouth host Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, March 30. Kick off is at 4.30pm and the game will be broadcast on ITV.