IT WAS a hot and humid morning.

The temperature was almost 32 degrees Celsius.

But the weather did not stop Michael Ballack from his morning workout, despite doing it all alone.

At 10.30 am yesterday, the German captain was spotted running around a grass patch, about one third the size of a football field, in front of the team's hotel, the Palace of the Golden Horses in KL.

Wearing a sleeveless top, Ballack's sweat was visibly dripping from his biceps, his muscles showing clearly.

Some fans were watching him through a glass panel in the hotel lobby lounge.

Ballack just kept running.

'He's like a machine,' said a fan.

'He's like a horse. Look at his muscles! He is so fit!' said another fan.

After every two rounds, Ballack would stop and walk for a few seconds before running his rounds again.

GRINNING

Fifteen minutes later, John Terry was spotted looking at Ballack from a ledge outside his room.

He stood there, grinning for five minutes before going back to his room.

Said a fan, Mike: 'John Terry should be ashamed of himself. Both of them are captains and Ballack is working so hard.'

The fans were expecting more players to join in the training after spotting cartons of Evian mineral water, Yogood yoghurt coated muesli bars, yoghurt drinks and a bunch of bananas near the training area.

Markings were also placed on the grass patch for the players' training session.

At 11.15am, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari appeared.

Ballack stopped his running, spoke to Scolari briefly, and both left the training area at 11.30am.