Atletico Madrid raced into a three-goal first-half lead before Miguel Sierra pulled one back, with Simeone delighted by his side's directness despite missing both Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth.
"The commitment, the identity of who we are and what we want. We'd talked about it, we knew where the objectives and the important matches were, and luckily we had about 60 very good minutes of pace and transitions, combining well, with players breaking from the second line even without Julián or Sorloth," Simeone said.
"Not having strikers doesn't mean we don't attack. I'm happy with how the team read the game."
He also praised the growing influence of Álex Baena: "He's becoming a real game-changer. Last year he started at a very good level, we could play him anywhere. Without doubt the joy and emotion of the World Cup did him good. I told him he had to make the most of what he is, and that's exactly what we'll keep demanding of him."
Sevilla's Kike Salas, back in the starting line-up after suspension, felt his side deserved more from the contest despite the scoreline.
"In the first half, we didn't manage the pressing well. They were very sharp. They're a great team, and when you have small lapses they make you pay. In the second half, the team gave everything, we were more solid and the goal let us get back into the game," Salas said. "I think the team left everything out there and I'm happy about that part."
Salas was also involved in a contentious penalty shout that went unreviewed.
"I touch the ball and clearly feel him hit me from behind - otherwise I wouldn't go down. I don't know how it wasn't reviewed, but they tell me it wasn't enough. Obviously he catches me, I fall and I can't continue the move. It's a decision I don't agree with, but we have to accept it," he said.
Sevilla boss Luis García Plaza was far more pointed in his assessment of the incident.
"It's a penalty. The other day they made a huge fuss about the red card, which maybe wasn't one, so I hope they also show this action on LaLiga's review. It was a very clear penalty," he said. On the tactical picture, García Plaza pointed to Atlético's altered shape as the key problem: "They hurt us a lot with Baena between the lines, because in the first two games they'd never played that way, with a diamond in midfield and two very wide wingers, no out-and-out striker. Despite telling Kike and Castrín from the start that they had to close down Baena, we never adjusted it properly."
On the market's imminent close, he added: "The Óso sale leaves us very little room. I don't fully understand the rules, but with that money it's going to be hard to find a replacement."