Former Rangers defender Peter Lovenkrands believes that the best defender he has come up against during his playing career is Barcelona skipper Carles Puyol.

The 36-year-old, who had the chance to lock horns against the former Spanish defender during his stint with Schalke, insists that what Puyol achieved during his extensive career both for Spain and Barcelona is insurmountable.




Puyol's tackling and aerial abilities impressed Lovenkrands, who feels that the former Barcelona man had everything that a manager expected from his skipper.

"The best defender I came up against in my career was Barcelona’s Carles Puyol", Lovenkrands told Rangers' official website.
 


Reflecting on a quarter-final tie against Barcelona in 2008, a tie that they lost 2-0 on aggregate, the former striker said that Puyol was one who caught his attention the most and believes that he was justly regarded as the best defender both for Spain as well as for the Spanish giants Barcelona.

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"During my time at Schalke we were drawn against Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"We lost 2-0 on aggregate – 1-0 in both legs – but in the first game in Germany I went on as a late substitute and briefly went head-to-head with Puyol", Lovenkrands explained. 

"What he achieved in his career for Spain and Barcelona was incredible and he is rightly regarded as one of the best defenders there has ever been.

"He was composed on the ball and could pass it well but on top of that he gave 100 per cent and always wanted to win."

During his 15-year-long career with Barcelona, Puyol managed an impressive 589 appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals in the process as well.