FA Cup: Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola values cup competition over Europe

As a player, Iraola spent over a decade at Athletic Bilbao and came up against Guardiola’s Barcelona side on several occasions, saying he “lost many times” against them.

Having been so dominant in recent years, City have had a more difficult season comparatively, having not been in the title race for the majority of it.

It has prompted suggestions that his style of football is no longer as effective as it was – something Iraola disputes.

“Pep Guardiola is the best manager I’ve known. I have no doubts,” he said.

“There is a structure, organisation, multiple options, but at the end of the day, I think what he tries to do is put the player in the best scenario to let him shine.”

The Bournemouth boss believes Guardiola sides are among the most difficult to prepare to play against, adding: “Normally, against other teams, they normally play like this, they have these adaptations…

“With Pep, you have to analyse like, I don’t know, nine or 10 different ways they can go.

“The last game we played against them, we prepared for a couple of main structures and straight away, in the third minute, we had to change everything.

“It’s very challenging but it’s the kind of challenge you are here for.”