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SEATTLE — Toronto forward Erickson Gallardo did not play a single minute in the MLS Cup playoffs this season and TFC GM Ali Curtis said not to read anything into that.

Curtis said Gallardo, who joined the Reds this summer with some fanfare from Venezuelan Primera Division club Zamora FC, was not in coach Greg Vanney’s dog house nor has his stock, in the eyes of the front office or coaching staff, dropped since he joined the team. Curtis said Vanney just didn’t think the time was right to play the 23-year-old, who in June made his debut with the Venezuelan national team.

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“In these games, particularly in the playoffs, everything is analyzed — the opponent, the venue, the game, what our situation looks like. And the decisions that Greg (made) in regards to roster choices is strictly about the group and not about any individual.

“We think his upside is tremendous,” Curtis told the Toronto Sun. “The things we saw on video and with scouting, the research and everything, we believe in him even more now that he’s been in our building. With a lot of young international players, it takes time to transition. He and his wife just had a baby maybe a couple of weeks ago. On top of that, he came in when the team was rolling.