Terry reveals Ben Haim s turmoil at Chelsea: A conflict broke out after a rough tackle on Shevchenko in training

November 19th John Terry recalled Tal Ben Haim’s turmoil at Chelsea and called him “very lucky” to join the Blues.

Terry revealed that Ben Haim has been banned from first-team training due to an ongoing conflict with head coach Avram Grant. Right-back Ben Haim spent just one season at Stamford Bridge and is better known for his controversies off the pitch than his performances on it. In 2007, then Chelsea coach Mourinho brought him to west London from Bolton. Ben Haim expressed his willingness to play in any position for the new coach at the time. However, Mourinho resigned three months later and was replaced by former Israel manager Grant, marking the beginning of Ben Haim's disastrous experience at Chelsea.

Terry recalled: "Tal is an interesting guy. I think he knows that he is very lucky to join Chelsea."

Terry and Ben Haim are still good friends to this day. Ben Haim had asked to wear the number 26 jersey because he had the same number before at Bolton, but his teammates did not agree. "He and Grant were arguing every day. They obviously knew each other and spoke their language, but it was always tit-for-tat. Eventually, Grant kicked him out of training and told him he couldn't train with the team. Grant kicked him out of training and said, 'You can't be here.' We got everyone together and I said, 'Listen, this year is important for us... Calm down, guys. The guys want you to join the team and don't cause trouble, Don't argue with the coach, if you continue like this, you can leave. But come in and train, we need you as part of the team. 'Grant got him back and he trained well."

In a live recording of the podcast hosted by former Chelsea teammate John Mikel Obi, Terry recounted the story of Ben Haim's heated clash with Shevchenko.

Mikel also recalled: "It was a five-a-side game, and something always happens in this kind of game. In our training and games, Tal kept tackling and kicking everyone, while Sheva was usually quiet and never said much. But Tal kept doing this and kept kicking, and finally Sheva broke out. In After being kicked for the last time, Sheva stood up and punched Tal directly. The two started fighting each other, and we all rushed to start a fight. The scene was very crazy. "

Ben Haim only played a few times for Chelsea after Grant arrived, and only played 13 times for the Blues before moving to Manchester City in 2008. He later played for a number of teams at all levels of the English league, such as Sunderland, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers and Charlton, but failed to reproduce the form when Mourinho signed him. The defender made 96 appearances for the Israeli national team and retired in 2021 after returning to his home country to continue his club career.