Answer:
Ok, let's suppose the simplest of the physical changes:
We have an object that is not moving (so it is not accelerated)
and there is change, now the object moves.
Because there was a change, means that there was an acceleration, and by the second Newton's law.
Force equals mass times acceleration:
F = m*a
There must be a force.
So suppose that you pushed the object, then some energy that you had, you transferred it to the object, that now is moving and now has kinetic energy.
Now, is kinda true that in a closed system the total energy is always constant, but it depends on what is our system.
So if we think in our system as you and the object, then in the whole system the energy does not change because the energy that you lost is now on the object, but again, there was a transfer of energy.
So no, your friend is not correct.
