Viking FK skipper Zlatko Tripic suffers allergy scare before Stuttgart clash

Viking FK captain Zlatko Tripic faced an unexpected challenge upon his arrival in Germany for the club's Champions League opener against VfB Stuttgart. The 33-year-old winger revealed that he suffered a severe allergic reaction during the charter flight from Stavanger due to the excessive use of perfume onboard.

Tripic, who jokingly pointed to teammate Kristoffer Askildsen as one of the culprits, confirmed that the irritation would not sideline him. He expects to recover quickly using a nasal spray before the match kicks off.

There was so much perfume on that plane. I'm allergic to strong smells. My nose was terribly irritated during the entire flight. Zlatko Tripic

Head coach Morten Jensen is urging calm ahead of what is arguably the biggest match in the club's history. Despite the distraction of the flight, Jensen emphasized that his squad is experienced enough to handle high-pressure moments without altering their standard preparation routines.

"The occasion is historic and there are probably a few players who are feeling nervous, but we are not going to do anything special," Jensen stated. Tripic echoed his manager’s sentiment, insisting the players must focus solely on their tactical duties rather than the grandeur of the stadium or the nature of the opponent.