Source: Team_Talk
Hoops skipper will never change
But he insists he would never do so in a way that impinges on his team-mates or manager Gordon Strachan.
Strachan revealed he had to force McManus off at half-time during Celtic's 1-1 draw with Hearts last month because he was "too brave for his own good" in battling through an ankle injury.
Strachan urged the defender to admit when the pain was too much as a "50%" McManus was not enough.
The Scotland defender will return to the side at Pittodrie after missing the Scottish Premier League win over Aberdeen two weeks ago.
McManus insisted the ankle was "fine" following the rest and rehab of a training camp in Spain last week, but he would not rule out going through the pain barrier during the title run-in.
"I'm 26 years of age now and I'm never going to change," he said.
"What happened at Tynecastle was blown totally out of proportion, but these things happen in the country we live in.
"As a player, you want to play in as many games as possible. But one thing you can't afford to do is let your team-mates and your manager down, especially with five games to go.
"People have to be on top of their games and it's just a case of flinging everything on the line to try to get over the line."
Celtic lead Rangers by one point ahead of Saturday's lunchtime clash in the Granite City.
"We have five games to go, five of the biggest games of our careers," McManus added.
"It's important we give everything for the cause and each other because that's what you need to do to win championships here.
"It's the same mentality we've had since the manager came in - everything is a must-win."
Celtic's last trip to Pittodrie resulted in a 4-2 defeat in January, when the Celtic defence were caught out by four high balls into the box.
Zander Diamond won the game for the hosts by converting two late Charlie Mulgrew free-kicks, which turned the spotlight on Celtic's zonal marking system.
But McManus said: "We've been doing the same things since the manager came in four years ago.
"When it doesn't go the right way, everything is highlighted. It was the same with Liverpool.
"When really good deliveries are coming in, sometimes there is not much you can do.
"But I think in that instance we certainly didn't defend as well as we should have done.
"We have played a lot of football since then. We know it's going to be another tough game but we are ready for the challenge."
Celtic 4/7, Draw 13/5, Aberdeen 9/2
