Petr Cech is leaving nothing to chance as he prepares for the biggest game of his life. The Chelsea goalkeeper will use every trick in the book to make sure that he is not beaten by Ronaldo and Co in Moscow and that includes a special orange jersey developed by Russian scientists that is designed to distract strikers just as they are about to pull the trigger.

“It’s been scientifically proven that you shoot at targets when you see one,” Cech said. “Even when a player wants to shoot into the bottom corner, they see the orange shirt and they can’t ignore the colour because it’s attractive to their eyes. It happens quickly and subconsciously, but eyes cannot ignore such a bright colour.”

Cech has won his special top once, with mixed results. Needing to beat Bolton Wanderers at home to have any chance of winning the Barclays Premier League title on the last day of the season, Cech lined up for action looking like a steward who was moonlighting in goal. Manchester United may have been winning away to Wigan Athletic, but everything was going well for Cech and his lurid jersey until Matthew Taylor beat him with a low strike that slithered through the Czech goalkeeper’s legs before ending up in the net.

“The studies say the colour is like an alarm or alert which spreads and is very difficult to avoid,” Cech said. “I found this out from a Russian guy working at Sparta Prague when I was there four years ago. He showed me all his studies and I was very impressed.”

So impressed that Cech is planning on wearing his garish ensemble — the top is complemented by matching orange shorts — at the Luzhniki Stadium when he comes up against Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Cech will also be wearing his distinctive headguard that he has used since he was injured in a collision with Stephen Hunt, the Reading midfield player, in October 2006.

“Maybe I should wear a motorcycle crash helmet,” Cech said. “I’ve thought about it. As long as I can play I don’t mind what I have to wear to protect myself.”

As well as establishing himself as arguably the best goalkeeper in the world since he arrived at Stamford Bridge from Rennes for £7 million in 2004, Cech’s Chelsea career has been blighted by a series of serious injuries that have left him dazed and confused by the physical nature of English football. Last month, Cech needed 50 stitches and plastic surgery after an accidental clash with Tal Ben-Haim during training left him with a gash on his face from his lip to his jaw.

“I don’t know how to explain,” he said, pulling out his mobile phone and showing off a gruesome picture. “My face was completely split right the way down. It was a nasty one to have, but it wasn’t like it was life-threatening or anything.”

Thankfully, Cech’s latest injury was not as serious as the fractured skull that he was left with after his collision with Hunt and before the biggest night of his career, he has had enough of looking back. “All I can do is make sure that I’m ready on the night,” he said. “And make sure that I handle the pressure.”