A failed spell with Chelsea remains a major source of regret for Maccabi Tel Aviv defender Tal Ben Haim.
The 33-year-old Israel international returns to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to begin his club's Champions League Group G campaign, eight years on from joining the reigning Premier League champions on a free transfer from Bolton Wanderers.
But falling short at Chelsea, where he felt he had the ability to become a permanent fixture, has continued to haunt Ben Haim.
"Chelsea is a wound that never healed for me," he told a pre-match press conference.
"I see the players in their team, and I think I could have played six or seven years for that club.
"I worked hard from the age of six to join a big club [like Chelsea] and made many sacrifices, but after just one year it was over."
