An emotional Diego Simeone was thrilled with the way Atletico Madrid have reinvented themselves following their progression to the last 16 of the Champions League. 

Simeone watched on as Atletico beat Club Brugge 4-1 at the Estadio Metropolitano on Tuesday, sealing a 7-4 win on aggregate, helped by Alexander Sorloth's brilliant hat-trick. 

Indeed, Atletico have now reached the round of 16 of the Champions League on 11 occasions since the 2013-14 season, with only Bayern Munich (13), Real Madrid (13), Manchester City (12) and Paris Saint-Germain (12) reaching that stage more often during that timeframe.

Their seven goals in this tie were also their most in any knockout tie in UEFA's flagship competition, going two better than when they beat AC Milan 5-1 on aggregate in the last 16 in 2013-14.

It's been a topsy-turvy season for Atletico, who find themselves 13 points adrift of LaLiga leaders Barcelona, having also placed 14th in the league phase of this competition. 

The club also oversaw a huge squad overhaul last summer, with 11 new players arriving, while Ademola Lookman, Rodrigo Mendoza and Obed Vargas joined last month. 

"I'm very happy, there's a lot of hard work behind these results, which are starting to be more positive than negative," Simeone said.

"Many new players joined us last season and many more this season, so reinventing ourselves is never easy.

"And when you see the willingness and conviction of the substitutes when they come on, that moves me. 

"I'm a football man, and when I see that commitment to the idea, to what we're looking for, I feel very identified with it."

Their win was spearheaded by Sorloth, who has now netted 15 goals across all competitions this season, the most of any Atletico player.

He also became just the second player to net a Champions League hat-trick for the club, after Mario Mandzukic, who did so against Olympiacos back in November 2014.

Sorloth has also scored as many goals against Club Brugge as he managed in his other 20 appearances in the Champions League combined (three).

The Norwegian opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when he held off Brandon Mechele from Jan Oblak's long punt forward before finishing past Simon Mignolet, who should have done better to repel his left-footed attempt. 

"It was really important to get the first goal. I especially liked the goal because of my idol, Didier Drogba, who used to score many goals like that," Sorloth said.

"It reminded me of one of his goals, which makes it even more special for me. We just have to continue.

"We have to take the confidence we get from these types of games and build on it.

"Of course, we need to be more stable defensively, to not concede chances against offensive teams, and we have to stay hungry."

Simeone was also on hand to discuss the future of Antoine Griezmann, who has been linked with a move to MLS side Orlando City in recent days. 

Griezmann has made 481 appearances across two stints at the club, netting 210 goals as well as providing 89 assists for his team-mates. 

"I'm not going to speak for him. I love him very much. I have already told him what I think," Simeone said. 

"That he always chooses the best he wants. He is in a place where he deserves to choose what he wants to do."