Stephen McManus could not be more laidback were he to spend a fortnight in the company of Artur Boruc. The Celtic captain rarely appears ruffled on the field of play and carries that same air of equanimity into his dealings with the media.
Stephen McManus could not be more laidback were he to spend a fortnight in the company of Artur Boruc. The Celtic captain rarely appears ruffled on the field of play and carries that same air of equanimity into his dealings with the media.
He is yet to be afflicted with the what school did he go to?' west of Scotland paranoia that sees every refereeing decision eyed with suspicion and given disproportionate attention on the airwaves and on supporters' forums.
McManus, confessing he may be a naive idealist, would prefer to give match officials the respect he feels they deserve, and chooses to leave any work-related problems behind when he returns home after a match.
"It's something that has been going on for years and it's never going to change," he said. "It's a west of Scotland thing. I'm a firm believer that over the season things will work out. I'm not one to cry over spilt milk. If it happens, it happens - good, bad or indifferent.
"We've got more things to worry about. When folk become obsessed about that they've not got very much else going for them. You guys will go home and enjoy having time with your family and you leave things at home. It's the same with football. You're just normal and if folk want to keep going on and on about it, I'd never be disrespectful and just say to them, Aye, pal, you're spot on.' You've just got to get on with your life.
"Everyone makes mistakes. I don't believe for a minute a referee will say, I'm not going to make that decision'. Maybe I'm naive, but I'd like to give them respect. They're there to do a job and everybody makes mistakes in every walk of life."
Scotland's midweek friendly with Argentina may cost Celtic the services of Paul Hartley and Barry Robson - the pair will undergo late fitness tests this morning ahead of the match at St Mirren - but McManus insisted he would never turn down the chance to represent his country.
"You always want to win another cap. If I were to finish my career and I was sitting on 24 caps or 49 caps or 99 caps you'd be sitting there saying, I wish I had played in that game'.
"Playing for your country is an honour. As a footballer if you ever hear a player saying he's playing too many games then it's disrespectful. When you've sat on the other side of it you know. Injuries can happen anywhere. You can get injured walking down the stairs or getting into your car."
Celtic's injury crisis shows no sign of abating but McManus believes there is little point in whining about it. "There were quite a few lads at training yesterday but I didn't know half of them," he said jokingly. "It's just the way football goes. Sometimes you've got a full squad, sometimes you haven't, so you just get on with it. We've got a really strong squad and are a determined bunch."
