After a year of managing expectations, downplaying their chances and pointing toward 2011, Red Bull coach Hans Backe has finally had a chance to sit back, decompress and think about his team’s upset loss in the Eastern Conference semifinals. What has he learned? It hurts…a lot more than he thought it would.

And he’s determined not to have that same sinking feeling after next season. He said the he plans to add four non-Designated players _ bolstering the back four and the strikers _ before camp, in search of an MLS Cup.

“I can live with it after one, two or three days. But it’s just getting worse; when you’re close, everybody wants to win it, with the draw and the homefield advantage,” Backe told the Post. “But I just get the feeling from the first leg when we looked very solid and seven days later we dropped.

“Physically, it’s impossible to drop so much. I think its mentality, that you’re not really ready for the big games. We showed up, but in some decisive moments we looked nervous and our decision-making was not the same. It’s disappointing. It’s been a good year but not a great year, so we just have to look forward and try to come back stronger for next year. But it still hurts for me personally.”

So how does he plan to improve a team that garnered 51 points, finishing atop the Eastern Conference standings? Especially one that he confirmed will lose captain and leading scorer Juan Pablo Angel, who scored a team-high 13 goals?

“We just have to look at the back, strengthen the back four and the attacking position,” Backe said. “Our midfield seems to be very strong, so on both ends. I just think we have to be stronger not only in one (defensive) position but it could be two.”

One candidate to strengthen the back is moving midfielder Rafa Marquez to centerback, and Backe expects a quantum leap from rookie Juan Agudelo. He said he was surprised to see the teen called up to the U.S. National Team after just two starts, and was going to try to shield him against the expected rumors from European press and calls from interested teams. More on that in another post.

Backe also estimated getting a quartet of newcomers for January training camp, and did NOT expect to be adding a high-priced Designated Player in the winter window. Their two well-known targets are Norwegian National Team midfielder Jan Gunnar Solli and combative English forward Luke Rodgers.

“You can never be surer until everything is signed and confirmed. I hope (to add Rodgers) but nothing is 100 percent done. It’s the same with Solli,” said Backe. “I would say to build on this base, we don’t like to do too much. After one season (it is strong). I would say four players (will do).”

When asked if he would target that duo and two defenders, Backe confirmed that would be likely, also added “As it looks now, we will stick with two DP players.” But, like all things in the world, I don’t see these in terms of black-and-white, but shades of gray. Rest assured, if the perfect player for their needs shakes loose in the summer, I’d expect them to revisit the idea.

Backe said even if they get Solli, he wouldn’t anticipate moving to a 4-3-3 because he didn’t want to strand Thierry Henry up top alone, and understands the Frenchman likes to drive wide left anyway. Backe would prefer to play a 4-4-2, either flat or diamond, and couple play Solli wide right, centrally or even at fullback.

And with regards to midfielders shifting to the back line, Mexican National Team captain Marquez is a candidate to strengthen the back line. Backe was an El Tri assistant from 2008 to 2009, and had seen Marquez long before taking over the Red Bulls, where Marquez’ calming influence in midfield helped rookie Tony Tchani develop rapidly.

Danish midfielder Brian Nielsen will go to camp with the team, Backe saying “He will definitely be there, and we’ll see if he’s able to start training in January. It will be 6 ½ months since surgery, and we’ll definitely give him a chance to see if he’s able to come back.”