FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has spoken about whether he thinks his team has a better squad than Real Madrid, and if there is a conflict between himself and former player Ousmane Dembele.

The Blaugrana managed to keep pole position in La Liga at the weekend following their 3-2 comeback win over Celta Vigo, which came ahead of Los Blancos losing the capital's derby to Atletico Madrid 3-1.

"It has been a great weekend, we have become leaders beyond Madrid losing," the manager said ahead of his side's clash with Real Mallorca on Tuesday.

"We didn't play a good game but it was a happy weekend, also because of the renewal," he added, in a nod to extending terms until 2025.

Then asked whether he thought he has a better squad at his disposal than arch rival in El Clasico Carlo Ancelotti, Xavi responded: "I'll tell you in June".

"They are opinions and ways of seeing and understanding football. There are thousands of opinions. In June we talked, I am very happy with my squad. I don't like comparisons, they have never gone well for me."

Ousmane Dembele was another topic that was raised. In the summer, the Frenchman joined Paris Saint-Germain in a transfer slightly north of €50 million ($53 million) which left Xavi temporarily short-staffed on the wings as Ansu Fati and Ez Abde also departed.

Some saw Dembele's exit as a betrayal given the way that Xavi took him under his wing and turned 'The Mosquito' into one of the world's best wingers as a leading provider of assists in Europe. For Xavi, though, there are no hard feelings amid reports from El Nacional that Dembele already regrets switching allegiances.

"Of course I remember, but I haven't watched PSG matches," he said.

"I'm worried about my rivals in La Liga and the Champions League and I don't look at PSG. I have no grudge, I love him the same and wish him the best. But I'm happy with the squad I have," he concluded on this.

With Tuesday's match followed by a Friday meeting with Sevilla and a trip to Porto a week later, Xavi promised rotations.

"There will be an average of two or three rotations per game, to have them one hundred percent and prevent injuries," he stated.