Gianluigi Donnarumma keeps his eyes fixed on his former fans. Those of PSG, who celebrate madly with joy in the stands of the Etihad, making a provocative gesture, a mockery that is particularly contemptuous of City fans. When the score was 0-3, after just over half an hour of play in the first half, the French turned their backs on the pitch, hugged and danced together: this is “The Poznan”. At the Manchester City stadium. It is much more than a simple explosion of euphoria, it is a provocative celebration: you score 3 goals and then give the impression that you no longer care about the game. And you turn your back. Almost a sign of contempt towards an opponent who can do nothing against you.
What is “The Poznan” and why is it a complete mockery?
Poznan, or “Grecque” (Greek), is a somewhat boastful form of sports celebration, which in the language of the stands has a clear meaning: you no longer watch the match and turn your back on the pitch, the goals and the result. Because you know, or believe, that the result is already in your hands. There are three main elements of a choreography with great impact: the position, where standing with your back to the pitch is the maximum expression of sporting contempt; the movement, which is immediately noticeable, because all the fans dance at the same time, forming a moving wall; and the effect, a kind of visual and sonic earthquake, where the entire stand is transformed into a human wave that dances and sings. At the Etihad, after the third goal of coach Luis Enrique's team, this very scene took place. A perfect mockery and not at all accidental.
PSG fans doing the Poznan at the Etihad Stadium after scoring a 3rd goal
by u/SparklyEarlAv32 in soccer
Why did PSG fans celebrate that way?
It is a poignant irony, because “The Poznan”, which originates from the Polish team of that name, has become the hallmark of Manchester City fans, who adopted it since 2010, on the occasion of a match against Lech Poznan. Since then, the gesture has become part of English football culture and is repeated by other fans.
🚨| PSG's traveling fans are now doing the Poznań. 👀🏟️ https://t.co/k5YkURg2ae
— FÚTBOL HUB (@FutbolHub_) October 14, 2026
From the stadium to the stage, the "wall" during the Oasis concert
During a concert by the British band affiliated with Manchester City, Liam Gallagher asked 70,000 people to hug each other and then turn their backs to do “The Poznan”. And madness ensued, because that mass of people transformed into a single block dancing near the stage, as if they were in a stadium. That photo of the fans even became the cover of a single released from the concert in Cardiff. This is why the behavior of the French ultras fans was so difficult for Manchester City fans to deal with. Defeated 4-2 and ridiculed in their own home.
