BARCELONA coach Hansi Flick and his players have expressed their displeasure at having to travel 4,500 miles to play a regular season La Liga match near Miami in December.

Replying to a question at a press conference today, Flick made his feelings clear.

“My players are not happy, I am not happy, but La Liga decided that we will play this game,” he said.

The match against Villarreal will be played at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens on December 20, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended the Spanish league game by saying it represents the opportunity to further push into the US sports market.

But for Flick and his players, it represents added travel during a busy period before a short winter break. Barcelona will also travel to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup starting January 7.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has criticised playing the game in the US, saying players are already overloaded with travel and a packed playing calendar.

Like Barcelona, Villarreal is also playing in the Champions League this season.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has said that the league plans to make an international football match an annual event. The league has chartered planes to bring to Florida what it estimates will be 2,000 to 3,000 fans from Villarreal, which is the home team.

Barcelona plays Girona in the Spanish league tomorrow.