In fact, not only for Manchester United, this season's Europa League is also a matter of life and death for Tottenham Hotspur.
However, because United's profile is bigger and they have long held the title of one of the richest clubs in the world, the Europa League is more attractive to be associated with United.
This season's Europa League is not only about football, but also about the business fate of a club that is having financial difficulties like MU.
Both United and Spurs have six league games remaining, as do the other 18 Premier League clubs.
They are no longer likely to finish in the top six, which is the European competition zone.
They can only break into the top six if the teams above them lose their last six games and they win their last six. That is impossible.
This impossibility makes them pragmatic to focus on the Europa League, because this is the gateway to next season's Champions League, which is good for the club's finances and increases its appeal to stars in the summer transfer market.
They will not be too pushy in their remaining six league games, just to avoid relegation and not worsen an injury crisis that could destroy their Europa League project.
The relegation scenario is over for both clubs, as they are now 17 points and 16 points behind 18th-placed Ipswich Town.
Ipswich could join already-relegated Southampton and Leicester City on the brink of relegation.
Although each position in the league standings earns a Premier League team 3.1 million pounds (Rp69 billion), this amount is not enough to overcome the financial problems of both teams, especially MU.
Last season United earned £40.5m (Rp105 billion) for finishing eighth, which was their worst since the English top flight was rebranded as the Premier League in 1992.