Mourinho exits frustates Ben Haim

Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim has insisted he would never have signed for the club had he known Jose Mourinho was about to be replaced as manager by Avram Grant.

Ben Haim, a longstanding target for Mourinho, eventually joined Chelsea last June. But only months later Mourinho had left Stamford Bridge to be replaced by Ben Haim's fellow Israeli Avram Grant.

Ben Haim has played just six matches since the turn of the year – just two of those in the league.

“Jose Mourinho is the reason I came to Chelsea and if I knew Avram Grant was going to be the coach then I would have signed for another club,” former Bolton favourite Ben Haim told Wednesday's edition of the Sun tabloid.

“It was Jose who brought me here and no one except he and I know the conversation we had when he tried to sign me the first time a year ago last January,” he added.

“The fact is while Jose was the coach I played most of the games and people who know me know that I would not have come here to be a reserve.

“I knew that nothing good would come with Grant as Chelsea coach.”

Chelsea have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they face English rivals Liverpool and are second in the Premier League table.

But a surprise 1-1 draw at home to Wigan on Monday left the Blues five points behind Premier League leaders and reigning champions Manchester United with just four games of the season left.