Pep Guardiola is preparing to send out an unprecedented message on Manchester City's social media channels pleading with fans to come to home Champions League matches.



City supporters have an odd relationship with the elite competition and regularly fail to fill the Etihad during the group stage games, and have even been sanctioned for booing the Champions League anthem.

But the Sky Blues host dangerous Ukrainian opponents Shakhtar Donetsk in their next group fixture this week and Guardiola is keen for the empty seats to be taken.

So much so that he'll take to Twitter to implore Cityzens to come along for the evening,

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Images: PA



Speaking via the Manchester Evening News, Pep said: "We need our fans - hopefully they can come.

"In the Champions League we know they have a little bit more problems.

"I will use my social media to say 'come next Tuesday to help us,' because in Champions League one step back and you are in trouble.

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"If you are able to win, you are able to make a huge step to be in the last 16 in February."



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Images: PA



Guardiola went onto state that he knows Shakhtar well from his time at his former clubs:

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"Shakhtar I know them very well because of my period in Barcelona and Bayern Munich I played them a lot of times.

"They have four or five Brazilians. Every time they buy amazing football players. They are a top team. They were able to beat one of the best teams in the world in Napoli.

"It will be so complicated. In the group we have to be careful."



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Image: PA



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Guardiola is a serial winner of the Champions League, having won it both as a player and manager at Barcelona, so he must be slightly confused as to why Manchester City supporters can't quite get on board with it.

What do you think of the situation? And will Pep's plea make any difference?