CHERRIES boss Andoni Iraola believes it is “good for the motivational side” if his side have a potential semi-final or cup final in their minds during their EFL Cup run.

Second-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Joe Rothwell saw Cherries beat Stoke City 2-0, making it two wins from two and setting up a home clash with Liverpool in round four.

Speaking in the dressing room ahead of Cherries’ first cup game against Swansea City, Iraola reminded his players of the ultimate prize available to them at the end stages of the competition.

The Basque head coach also pointed out that just four wins in the competition would take Cherries to the semi-finals, a feat most players will not achieve in their careers.

In an era where most managers and players quote cliches about taking each game as it comes, one game at a time, it is rare to see a boss talk about the end goal.

“I think you have to take it game to game, obviously,” Iraola told the Daily Echo.

“But in this kind of competition, I think it's good for the motivational side to think, okay, we can win four games, you play the semi-finals and it's very difficult to play a cup semi-final.

“They are not easy games. We've won two. We still have another two to play in the semi-finals.

“But you have to try every single year because at the end of your career you remember these kind of things, especially when you play teams that they are not fighting for winning the league or whatever is the competitions that can give you this, these special moments.”

Having led previous clubs Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, Spain’s equivalent of the FA Cup, Iraola pledged to take both cup competitions in England seriously this campaign.

That has not stopped the Spaniard from using the EFL Cup as an opportunity to rotate, with eight changes made for the clash with Stoke.

With three games in the span of seven days, the former Athletic Club player felt changes were necessary for fitness reasons.

“It is a difficult week for us, because it's just three games in six days and we needed some fresh legs, some players also to recover a little bit for Saturday,” continued Iraola.

“And I think it's good that we made the changes.

“We also made the changes against Swansea and we are still in the competition.

“It's not as easy because I think it is 10 Premier League teams now continue.

“I think 10 they are in, 10 they are out.

“It makes you think that it's not as easy. It looks like you have to win against Championship teams, but it's never easy to win these games.”