If Manchester City fans have been thinking their ground reeks of garlic, it’s because it actually does

If you see a vampire at the Etihad Stadium this season, you’ll know that they’re a fraud.

Mainly because vampires don’t exist, but also because there is a strong smell of garlic in Manchester City’s ground. The reason for this pungent aroma wafting through the stands is fairly obvious – it’s because there is indeed garlic on the turf.

Fans in the stadium noticed the garlic smell during the Citizens 4-0 Champions League win over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday because City’s groundsmen cover the pitch in garlic to protect the grass against the threat of parasites.

City have been using this technique for two years, ever since the City Football Academy training facility was opened.

MEGABANTZ! SUPERLOLZ! https://t.co/vEW9Mo4Fu0

— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) September 14, 2016

So if you notice fans holding their noses with grimaced faces during City’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth on Saturday you can wheel out that bit of a trivia to your friends down the pub as they turn your back to you and decide to talk to the wall instead.

And if any budding vampires are put off by the aroma at the Etihad, that’s not even the start of it. We’ve also heard that – on most matchdays – you can’t move for all the crosses at both ends of the pitch.

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