Radek Vitek kept his first Bristol City clean sheet as the Robins were held to a draw by Charlton Athletic at Ashton Gate
15:00, 18 Aug 2025
Radek Vitek has impressed in Bristol City colours(Image: Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)
There is a common saying in football: ‘Never fall in love with a loan player.’ The experience of falling for a rising star who is only at your club on a temporary basis is something Bristol City fans know all too well, having been through it with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Matt Smith, Steven Caulker, and, most recently, George Earthy.
Some of those loanees were instant hits in BS3, while others, like Earthy, took a bit of time to win over the Robins’ faithful. Although the 2025/26 campaign is only two league matches old, it would be safe to say Radek Vitek has found himself added to the above list after earning his spot in record time.
Having joined City’s ranks on loan from Manchester United this summer, the 21-year-old was thrust straight between the posts for the Reds’ Championship opener against Sheffield United, having never played in England’s second tier before.
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What followed was a superb goalkeeping performance as Vitek produced impressive stops to deny each of Louie Barry, Harrison Burrows, and Sydie Peck, while also dominating his penalty area as Gerhard Struber’s side romped to a 4-1 win.
As the Robins made their way over to the away end after the game, it was the United loanee who embraced the travelling fans, twice leading them through a chorus of cheers before joining the rest of his teammates as they headed down the tunnel.
"It was unbelievable," Vitek told Bristol Live when asked about his interaction with the supporters at Bramall Lane. "I really enjoyed it, celebrating that win with the fans in the first game at Sheffield United away was amazing for me.
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"I’m glad we have fans like that who support us home and away. I hope we keep the momentum with them going until the end of the season.
"Everyone welcomed me here really well," the goalkeeper continued. "The coach has been really great with me. I spoke with him a lot before I came here, and obviously now as well. I know what he wants from me.
"We have obviously a really good group of goalkeepers who are supporting me every day and helping me to reach my best level in every game I play. So, I’m very happy here in Bristol so far.”
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Vitek sat out the Robins’ Carabao Cup win over MK Dons, where Joe Lumley was given his first competitive outing having made the move to BS3 earlier this summer, before returning to the starting line-up for Saturday afternoon’s stalemate against Charlton Athletic.
Following the fireworks of the opening day of the season, supporters understandably made their way to Ashton Gate with not only an expectation to see their side win, but to be entertained. Although the Reds were unable to find the all-important winner, with Anis Mehmeti’s crossbar-bound strike early in the second half the closest Struber’s side came to an opener, a solid defensive performance kept the Addicks at bay.
City dealt well with the majority of what Nathan Jones’ side threw at them, but still needed to rely on their goalkeeper to pull off a handful of important saves. Vitek got down well to push Robert Apter's strike away from danger and smothered a Havey Knibbs effort from close range late on.
However, his best intervention came midway through the first half when he collapsed low to his left to claw what would have been a George Tanner own-goal off of his goalline from point blank range, to the awe of Struber, Charlton assistant Curtis Fleming, and the home crowd.
“It was an ugly ball for George; it was really difficult,” Vitek remarked when asked about the save. “I think he didn’t expect that, and I didn’t expect that, but in the end, we managed to keep it out, so everyone’s happy.
“Obviously, we wanted to take more from the game,” he continued. “Our first home game, we wanted to take a win and three points. We have things to work on, but I’m glad we kept a clean sheet, the first one of the season, in front of the amazing fans. I’m satisfied, but it’s obviously something to work on.
"The first half was obviously a little less shots and everything, so I didn’t have much to do. Then, in the second half, I had to step in and make some saves and take some crosses, but, as I said, we have things to work on maybe in our build-up to keep more possession for the next games, but I’m glad."
Having joined the ranks at Manchester United in 2020 from Czech club Sigma Olomouc, Vitek got his first real taste of senior men’s football in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign when he joined Accrington Stanley on loan. The six-foot-six goalkeeper made 18 appearances for the Reds as they finished 17th in League Two before spending last term on loan in Austria with Blau-Weiss Linz.
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At just 21 years old, Vitek is still incredibly young in goalkeeping terms, and should he stay injury-free, the Czech stopper should have a long career ahead of him. The hope is that a spell in the second tier with City should aid his development and help him push towards his ultimate goal of regular football at Old Trafford.
“My plan is to be, one day,the number one at Manchester United,” he smiled. “I don’t know how long that’s going to take for me or if I ever will be number one, but I’m going to do my best to improve my abilities here, and we’ll see the next step after the season or half.
“It’s a good step forward from last season,” Vitek continued. “The Austrian Bundesliga is a really good league, but I think the Championship is another step forward. It is a really competitive league, and as you see, every team can beat everybody.
"It’s a good challenge, as you saw today, it was really physical. Charlton, they play man-to-man, so there were a lot of long balls and running behind, so it’s tough for everyone on the pitch.
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"But I think I’m ready for the challenge, and so far I’m enjoying it."
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