Viking captain Zlatko Tripic set for Stuttgart despite flight reaction
Viking FK will enter their Champions League opener at VfB Stuttgart with captain Zlatko Tripic expected to be available despite an uncomfortable journey from Stavanger. The 33-year-old winger suffered irritation from strong perfume scents on the team’s charter flight to Germany, but plans to manage the reaction with nasal spray before kick-off at the MHPArena.
Tripic’s flight issue is not expected to affect selection
Tripic said the fragrance in the cabin caused a badly blocked and irritated nose for much of the trip. The Viking skipper, however, indicated that the problem should clear quickly and did not suggest that his involvement against Stuttgart was in doubt.
He also made light of the situation by identifying his room-mate, Kristoffer Askildsen, as a possible contributor to the heavy use of cologne. Tripic joked that Askildsen is aiming to be a model and is therefore particularly fond of wearing perfume.
The episode was treated as a minor logistical lesson for Viking’s future charter arrangements, with the suggestion that strong scents and excessive deodorant should be avoided on team flights.
Viking retain their normal approach for a landmark night
The travel disruption has not altered the calm mood around the Scandinavian champions before what is described as the biggest match in the club’s history. Head coach Morten Jensen has resisted any temptation to change the group’s matchday routine, even with the scale of the occasion and the quality of the opposition.
Stuttgart finished fourth in last season’s Bundesliga under Sebastian Hoeness, presenting a significant test for Viking in their European curtain-raiser. Jensen accepted that some players may feel nerves, but believes professional players are equipped to adapt without special preparations.
Tripic’s message was similarly focused on concentration. Once the match begins, he wants Viking to put aside the consequences and significance of the fixture, concentrating instead on the responsibilities within their game plan.
Key moments before the Stuttgart match
- Viking travelled from Stavanger to Germany on a charter flight.
- Tripic developed an allergic reaction to intense perfume smells in the cabin.
- The captain said nasal spray should allow him to recover ahead of kick-off.
- Jensen confirmed Viking will not alter their usual preparation for the Champions League debut.
- Approximately 600 supporters from Stavanger are set to back the visitors at the MHPArena.
What will shape Viking’s opening European test
- Tripic remains central to Viking’s plans despite the travel-related discomfort.
- Jensen wants his players to treat pressure as part of professional football rather than a reason to depart from established routines.
- Viking must handle the occasion against a Stuttgart team coming off a fourth-place Bundesliga finish.
- The travelling support will give the Norwegian side a notable presence in Stuttgart, with around 600 fans making the trip.
For Viking, the immediate task is to ensure a minor incident in the air remains exactly that. With Tripic expecting to be fit and Jensen insisting on continuity, the focus now turns to whether the visitors can translate their composure into a performance against one of Germany’s leading sides.
