Press conference: Andoni Iraola on Carabao Cup aims and facing Xabi Alonso's Chelsea
Andoni Iraola will put another close friendship briefly on hold when his Liverpool side meet Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.
Former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield on Wednesday night in charge of the opposition in the fourth-round tie.
The two men in the dugout share a long history, dating back to their childhoods in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa.
Iraola came up against another pal of his last week as Inigo Perez's Villarreal were beaten on Merseyside in the Champions League.
"I'm lucky because I have a lot of friends in front," Iraola told reporters. "They are good coaches but, like happened [in the] past week with Inigo, I think after the game – whatever happens – we will have a moment to at least have five minutes to chat with each other, yes."
On his relationship with Alonso, the Liverpool head coach added: "I think we've done already, I don't know, maybe 25 interviews talking about our relationship, and I can talk again.
"But I think in this moment everyone knows that we were close friends, we grew up together, we played in the same team. We played as football players against each other, we played together in the national team in Spain and with the Basque Country.
"But now he's the opposition and we want to beat him – and the same way he will do with us. After the game, we can talk, definitely.
"I said the other day with Inigo and it's the same with Xabi, once we are playing against each other, the relationship is not good because you kind of stop talking to the other, kind of a respect thing.
"But he's a very good friend and I wish him all the best, definitely."
Liverpool set up this meeting with Chelsea by defeating Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in round three last month.
Asked about the ambition to deliver a trophy in his first season in charge, Iraola responded: "I think every competition is an opportunity, especially when you are the coach of Liverpool. You have to take it like this.
"I would love to win tomorrow and have the chance to get further in the competition. But I know that we have to play very well, we have to beat a very good team.
"It's also a team that doesn't play in Europe, so for sure for them this competition is also very important. So, it's not going to be easy."
In beating Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at the weekend, the Reds stretched their winning run to four matches in all competitions.
Iraola believes results and performance levels will continue to improve as the squad's familiarity with the coaching staff grows.
"The more time we stay together, the more experiences we have together," said the 44-year-old.
"The more comebacks, the more sometimes losses, the better you know each other and the easier it is to have references, to evolve.
"We want to do this process while we win games and that's the secret. But now every game is a challenge, everything is costing us, but we have to keep going."
