Ahead of this weekend’s North London Derby, Tottenham and Kenya midfielder Victor Wanyama sat down with CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies to discuss the fixture and Spurs’ continued push for the Premier League title.

Wanyama also speaks on the relationship he has with Tottenham’s manager Mauricio Pochettino, and the effect he has had in turning the team into genuine title-challengers.

Reflecting on his career and upbringing in Kenya, Wanyama tells Davies who he supported growing up and who his childhood idol was.

Wanyama on the Premier League title-race and chasing down leaders Chelsea:

“Anything is possible, we just have to go on game-by-game and we’ll see at the end of the season. The manager has transformed everything at the club and everyone is thinking at a different level now because everyone thinks now we need to fight for bigger things. That’s what we are doing and I think we are on the right track.”

Wanyama on his relationship with manager Mauricio Pochettino:

“He’s a great manager. He’s like a father figure. He speaks to us not only about football, but also about life in general. We speak about everything; he wants to help you and make you a better man. Whenever I feel like I want to talk to him or he feels like he wants to talk to you, he’s always available for us and makes you want to fight for him. And not only for him, but for each other, so we fight for our teammates, for the manager, for everyone at the club.”

Wanyama on the North London Derby this weekend:

“Everyone is expecting a tough game. I think it will be a great game for both teams. Also, it will be a nice game to play… I see it as one of the biggest games in the season.”

Wanyama on his upbringing in Kenya:

“When I was younger I used to play in the streets with my friends and also trying to watch the games on TV. I used to watch English football, the Premier League, and I loved it, I wanted to play in the Premier League so badly since I was young.”

Wanyama on the team he supported growing up and his childhood idol:

“I was a Manchester United fan when I was growing up. I used to love the way they played and I liked some of their players so that was my team. I think Roy Keane is my idol, I used to love watching him play and he inspired me a lot.”